A visitor to Yellowstone National Park died Monday afternoon after being struck by a falling tree.
The 36-year old man was from Taiwan, and was part of a group that was hiking the Fairy Falls trail, according to a statement released Tuesday by the park’s public affairs office.
Fairy Falls is a popular trail leading to a waterfall located north of the Old Faithful area and west of the Grand Loop Road.
Park officials said the man was struck in the head by the falling tree after he left the trail and ascended a nearby tree-covered slope.
The man, whose name is being withheld pending notification of family members, was apparently attempting to get a better view of Grand Prismatic Spring, a large, multi-colored pool that is a favorite among visitors and photographers.
Other visitors who witnessed the incident made their way back to the trailhead, where they encountered two park maintenance employees working in the area, who relayed the information to Yellowstone law enforcement rangers.
The victim was moved by rangers to the trailhead to await helicopter transport to a medical facility, but after attempts to revive him failed, he was declared dead at the scene.
Yellowstone rangers who responded reported windy conditions in the area at the time. They said the fallen tree was a dead lodgepole pine killed during the 1988 wildland fires that spread across much of the park.
Contact Yellowstone Gate at 307-213-9818 or [email protected].