Latest news with #hyperbaricchamber
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Arizona therapist dies after hyperbaric oxygen chamber catches fire
A physical therapist in Arizona died after receiving burns from a flash fire inside a hyperbaric chamber. Walter Foxcroft, 43, was found dead inside a hyperbaric chamber by first responders at his medical facility, Navasu Health and Hyperbarics, in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, around 11 p.m. local time on July 9, officials said. The Lake Havasu City Fire Department said in a July 10 statement that it was dispatched along with the Lake Havasu City Police Department to respond to a report of a burn-related medical emergency. Foxcroft was pronounced dead at the scene, the statement said, after an apparent flash fire occurred in the chamber while the physical therapist was inside. Hyperbaric chambers are pressurized cylinders that administer high-pressure oxygen therapy. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the therapy treatment involves breathing 100% oxygen while inside the chamber, where increased air pressure helps the lungs collect more oxygen. More: What is a hyperbaric chamber? What to know about the therapy It has been used for decades to treat divers suffering from decompression sickness, known as the bends, and can be used to help treat several other conditions, such as tissue infections and poisoning, according to the Mayo Clinic. Officials confirmed that no one else was injured in the July 9 fire, and the incident is under investigation. The Arizona man's death is not the first hyperbaric chamber-related incident this year. In January, a 5-year-old boy died after the hyperbaric chamber he was in caught on fire at the Oxford Center in Troy, Michigan. Foxcroft co-founded Havasu Health and Hyperbarics in 2024, according to a press release announcing the new facility. He was a graduate of the University of Arizona, where he served as the university mascot, according to his brief biography on the facility's website, and earned a clinical doctorate in physical therapy at Touro University in Nevada. Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arizona therapist Foxcroft dies after hyperbaric chamber burns
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Washington Post
Man dies after flash fire in hyperbaric chamber in Arizona, authorities say
A 43-year-old man has died after suffering burns from a flash fire inside a hyperbaric chamber in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, authorities have said. Police and fire department units were called to a medical emergency for a burn victim at about 10:50 p.m. on Wednesday, Lake Havasu Fire Department said in a statement Thursday.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Arizona physical therapist burned alive inside hyperbaric chamber at his office
An Arizona physical therapist was killed after his hyperbaric chamber caught on fire while he was inside. Havasu Health and Hyperbarics owner Dr. Walter Foxcroft, 43, was found dead on Wednesday after firefighters responded to reports of a fire in his office. The flames were caused by a flash fire, the Lake Havasu City Fire Department said in a statement. Emergency responders pulled Foxcroft's body from the chamber and pronounced him dead at the scene. He was the only person injured. The city fire department is now investigating the cause. Hyperbaric chambers are used to get more oxygen to tissues damaged by disease or injury, according to the Mayo Clinic. The chamber is pressurized two to three times higher than normal air pressure to help the lungs gather more oxygen. Foxcroft first moved to Lake Havasu in 1998 as a teen, according to his website. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona, where he served as a sports mascot. After graduating, he worked as the Arizona Cardinals' mascot, Big Red, even attending the Super Bowl with the team in 2006. He went on to earn a doctorate in physical therapy from Touro University Nevada. He founded his office last year after getting certified as a Functional Medicine Hyperbaric Clinician. He became a Functional Medicine Hyperbaric Clinician, certified by the International Board of Undersea Medicine, and started Havasu Health and Hyperbarics in 2024. Shannon Kenitz, the executive director of the International Hyperbarics Association, told local outlet Today's News-Herald that Foxcroft completed the association's safety training. "He was very passionate about hyperbaric therapy," she told the outlet. Foxcroft's friend, Grace Echevarria, told Today's News-Herald she's 'grief-stricken' in the wake of his death. 'I sent [Foxcroft's wife] a text to tell her that I was here if she needed me,' Echevarria said. 'His little girl has been in our dance class and fine arts class, and I've known them for a couple of years. I'm grief-stricken about it.' Jonathan O'Neill, a fellow physical therapist, said he shadowed Foxcroft during his training. "I just remember how kind and thorough he was with each person, never in a rush, answered all questions, talked with family members etc,' he told Today's News-Herald. 'He even took me out to lunch, it was a great learning experience for me.'
The Independent
4 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Arizona physical therapist burned alive inside hyperbaric chamber at his office
An Arizona physical therapist was killed after his hyperbaric chamber caught on fire while he was inside. Havasu Health and Hyperbarics owner Dr. Walter Foxcroft, 43, was found dead on Wednesday after firefighters responded to reports of a fire in his office. The flames were caused by a flash fire, the Lake Havasu City Fire Department said in a statement. Emergency responders pulled Foxcroft's body from the chamber and pronounced him dead at the scene. He was the only person injured. The city fire department is now investigating the cause. Hyperbaric chambers are used to get more oxygen to tissues damaged by disease or injury, according to the Mayo Clinic. The chamber is pressurized two to three times higher than normal air pressure to help the lungs gather more oxygen. Foxcroft first moved to Lake Havasu in 1998 as a teen, according to his website. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona, where he served as a sports mascot. After graduating, he worked as the Arizona Cardinals' mascot, Big Red, even attending the Super Bowl with the team in 2006. He went on to earn a doctorate in physical therapy from Touro University Nevada. He founded his office last year after getting certified as a Functional Medicine Hyperbaric Clinician. He became a Functional Medicine Hyperbaric Clinician, certified by the International Board of Undersea Medicine, and started Havasu Health and Hyperbarics in 2024. Shannon Kenitz, the executive director of the International Hyperbarics Association, told local outlet Today's News-Herald that Foxcroft completed the association's safety training. "He was very passionate about hyperbaric therapy," she told the outlet. Foxcroft's friend, Grace Echevarria, told Today's News-Herald she's 'grief-stricken' in the wake of his death. 'I sent [Foxcroft's wife] a text to tell her that I was here if she needed me,' Echevarria said. 'His little girl has been in our dance class and fine arts class, and I've known them for a couple of years. I'm grief-stricken about it.' Jonathan O'Neill, a fellow physical therapist, said he shadowed Foxcroft during his training. "I just remember how kind and thorough he was with each person, never in a rush, answered all questions, talked with family members etc,' he told Today's News-Herald. 'He even took me out to lunch, it was a great learning experience for me.'
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Physical therapist dies in nightmarish freak accident after his own hyperbaric chamber caught fire
An Arizona physical therapist has died after the hyperbaric chamber at his clinic erupted into flames while he was inside it. Dr Walter Foxcroft, 43, was killed Wednesday after a flash fire broke out inside his Havasu Health and Hyperbarics clinic just before 11pm. The doctor's scorched body was found inside an oxygen therapy machine at his clinic, according to the Lake Havasu City Fire Department. No other injuries were reported in the incident. A flash fire is a rapidly-spreading blaze that breaks out when a cloud of flammable gas, vapor or dust ignites and causes a fast-moving flame. Hyperbaric chambers - sealed enclosures where barometric pressure is controlled by increasing air or oxygen - are highly flammable due to the high concentration of oxygen they contain. Firefighters determined the facility was ventilated and checked for other flammable hazards before turning the case over to police and fire investigations. The cause of the fatal fire remains under investigation. Crews were called to Foxcroft's clinic in Lake Havasu City, near the Arizona- California border, at 10.50pm for reports of a person trapped inside a burning hyperbaric chamber. By the time they arrived on scene, the building was already filled with smoke and flames were raging inside the oxygen treatment chamber. Foxcroft was pronounced dead at the scene. It is unclear why he was inside the chamber so late at night. The late doctor was a board-certified physical therapist with 27 years experience in the healthcare field, according to his clinic. He was certified in hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which is used to treat a variety of health conditions including decompression sickness, carbon monoxide poisoning and non-healing wounds. He was also trained in neurofeedback, photobiomodulation and spine mobilization. Foxcroft earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Touro University Nevada in 2012, his LinkedIn profile states. He founded his Havasu Health and Hyperbarics clinic just last year, which was the first-ever integrative naturopathic hyperbaric oxygen therapy center in the state, KARK reported at the time. The practice will be closed until further notice while authorities investigate the blaze. Before studying to become a physical therapist, Foxcroft attended the University of Arizona, graduating in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Physiological Sciences. During his time at the university, he performed as the school mascot Wilbur T. Wildcat. Arizona Cheerleaders & Mascots, in a heartfelt Instagram post, paid tribute to Foxcroft, saying: 'Wally was an unforgettable presence on the sidelines - an energetic, charismatic performer known for his signature moonwalk and passion for bringing joy to Arizona fans. 'He proudly returned for Homecoming, reconnecting with current mascots and sharing his spontaneous spirit as Wilbur with all of us.' The team continued: 'Wally's dedication to uplifting others - through performance, healing, and innovation - will never be forgotten. Thank you, Wilbur, for the spirit, the showmanship, and the legacy you leave behind.' After his stint as Wilbur, Foxcroft served as the mascot for the Arizona Cardinals and joined the team at Super Bowl XLIII in 2006. He then returned to school to pursue physical therapy.
