A therapist from Arizona has died after a “flash fire” ignited inside the Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber he was using.
According to a press release by Lake Havasu City, the incident occurred on Wednesday, July 9, at around 10:50 PM. The fire and police departments responded to a medical emergency for a burn patient in the 1800 block of Mesquite Avenue. The caller who dialed 911 explained that the patient was using a hyperbaric chamber at the time.
According to the Mayo Clinic, hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases oxygen delivery to the body by providing pure oxygen in an enclosed chamber.’
The press release reveals the victim’s identity as 43-year-old Walter Foxcroft from Lake Havasu City. When the fire department arrived at the scene, they noted smoke throughout the building. They found an “intact” hyperbaric chamber, which authorities believe had a flash fire while Foxcroft was still inside. The 43-year-old was the only affected person, and emergency services pronounced him dead at the scene.
Authorities reportedly ventilated the area and are now investigating the incident.
CBS News shared more details, revealing that Foxcroft opened Navasu Health and Hyperbarics in 2024. He was a physical therapist, according to the outlet, and the hyperbaric chamber was in his office. It remains unclear why he was using the chamber late at night.
The Incident Marks At Least The Second Hyperbaric Chamber Death In 2025
According to multiple outlets, including People, a 5-year-old boy, Thomas Cooper, died in a hyperbaric chamber on January 31. The chamber reportedly exploded with the victim still inside. Cooper’s mother was standing beside the device at the time and suffered burns to her arms.
Authorities later arrested and charged four people in connection with the explosion. Per NBC, police charged Oxford Center founder and CEO Tamela Peterson with second-degree murder. Two other workers were also charged with the same offense. Another faced charges of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence. At the time, the Troy Fire Department noted that incidents involving hyperbaric chambers were uncommon.
However, they explained the potential dangers owing to the increased oxygen. “A hyperbaric chamber contains 100 percent oxygen, which is up to three times the amount of oxygen than a normal room. The presence of such a high amount of oxygen in a pressurized environment can make it extremely combustible.”