US National Park Service rangers have charged former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, aged 70, with trespassing in Yellowstone National Park. The charges stem from an incident where Mr. Brosnan allegedly ventured off the designated trail near the Mammoth Hot Springs, a prominent thermal feature within the park. As a result of the charges, he has been ordered to appear in court in Wyoming on 23 January.
Yellowstone National Park is renowned for its stunning natural wonders, including geysers, steam vents, and scalding mud pools, among which the Mammoth Hot Springs stand out. However, these thermal features can be perilous, with more than 20 fatalities reported in the park’s history resulting from individuals falling into the scalding hot springs.
According to charging documents obtained by BBC News, the Irish actor, famous for his portrayal of James Bond from 1995 to 2002, ventured into an off-limits area near the Mammoth Terraces on 1 November. It is alleged that he left the designated boardwalk to access ecologically sensitive ground within the park.
While Mr. Brosnan has not commented on the charges, park authorities stress the dangers of leaving designated trails, as the ground can be brittle and prone to collapsing into the searing hot acid pools below, as indicated on the park’s official website.
This incident is a stark reminder of the perils associated with straying from established paths within Yellowstone. In August, a Michigan man sustained thermal burns after departing from the official trail. Similarly, in 2021, a 20-year-old woman suffered severe burns while attempting to rescue her dog from a hot spring in the park. In a tragic incident in 2016, a 23-year-old man lost his life in the Lower Geyser Basin after deviating from the boardwalk trail. Authorities deemed it too dangerous to recover his body, which had largely dissolved by the following day.
Mr. Brosnan’s presence in Yellowstone was related to the filming of “Unholy Trinity,” a Western movie also featuring Samuel L Jackson. The production was conducted under a special agreement with Sag-Aftra to avoid strike-related rules.
While the actor’s career has spanned numerous iconic roles, including appearances in films like “Dante’s Peak,” “Mamma Mia,” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” and “The Thomas Crown Affair,” this incident serves as a cautionary tale about respecting the rules and safety measures in America’s oldest national park.
