The accident was the result of the poor conditions of the steps leading to the famed crater, and there is plenty of blame to go around.
Vísir reports that a British tourist in his seventies slid down the stairs leading to the crater Sunday morning, resulting in a broken leg. He was transported to a health clinic in south Iceland, where he received treatment for his injuries.
A tour guide who wished to remain anonymous told reporters that the stairs were covered with mud, and in terrible condition for anyone to navigate. He added furthermore that it is “irresponsible” of the land owners of the area to allow these conditions to persist, and that some kind of gravel should have been spread over the steps.
However, Óskar Magnússon, a spokesperson for the land owners around Kerið, had a different take on the matter.
“When the snow and ice starts to melt into the earth, the steps become very wet, and it is quite pointless to put anything on it,” he said. “You have to let the steps dry up first, even if we’re left sitting on our hands in the meantime.”
Óskar even went as far as to say that it is the tourists themselves who bear responsibility for any injuries they may incur, and that there is a sign in the parking lot warning tourists that this is the case. Potential tourists to the spot should take this to mean they should enter Kerið at their own risk.
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