A tragic incident at a gym in Paris has left one woman dead and another in critical condition after a cryotherapy session went horribly wrong. The event took place at the On Air gym located on Boulevard Voltaire on Monday. According to French investigators, a malfunction in the cryotherapy chamber, possibly due to a nitrogen leak, caused the disaster.
The victim, an employee in her late 20s, was found unresponsive after the incident. A client in her 30s was also severely affected and is currently hospitalized in critical condition. Authorities reported that three other individuals who attempted to provide first aid to the victims also required medical attention.
Cryotherapy, a treatment that uses extremely cold temperatures for therapeutic benefits, often utilizes nitrogen, which is both odorless and colorless. The gym was quickly evacuated, with around 150 people present at the time of the malfunction. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a body being removed from the facility, covered by a white sheet, as screens were set up outside to shield the scene from public view.
An autopsy and toxicology tests are planned to determine the exact cause of death, according to a spokesperson for the Paris prosecutor’s office. In the wake of the incident, the gym has been closed indefinitely as investigations continue.
This incident is not the first of its kind. Cryotherapy has faced scrutiny in the past, particularly after a 2015 case in the United States where a woman died in a cryotherapy chamber after being left unattended for an extended period. These occurrences raise questions about the safety protocols in place for such treatments.
While some research suggests that cryotherapy may help with inflammation and recovery, the scientific community remains divided on its effectiveness. As the investigation unfolds, this tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers associated with extreme temperature therapies.