A cryotherapy session intended for relaxation and healing turned fatal following an accident at a Parisian gym.
Authorities have confirmed they are investigating after an incident at a Paris gym led to the death of one woman and left another in critical condition.
The woman who lost her life was a 29-year-old employee of the gym, while the injured individual, a client, is 34.
The accident reportedly occurred at approximately 6:20 pm on Monday, April 14, at an upscale gym in Paris’s 11th district. Officials identified the location as the On Air facility on Voltaire Boulevard.
The exact reason for the woman’s death is under investigation, but initial beliefs suggest that nitrogen leakage from the cryotherapy chamber led to her poisoning.
Cleveland Clinic describes cryotherapy as a procedure where extreme cold is used by healthcare providers to freeze and eliminate abnormal tissue. This extreme cold is often produced using substances such as liquid nitrogen or argon gas.
In chamber-based cryotherapy, individuals are briefly exposed to temperatures below -100° Celsius, typically for no longer than three minutes.
This treatment has gained popularity among athletes and celebrities as an alternative to traditional ice packs and cold-water baths.
Despite its popularity, experts caution that cryotherapy’s medical efficacy is not fully established, and they advocate for further studies to investigate both short-term and long-term impacts, particularly concerning whole-body cryotherapy.
Emergency response teams quickly arrived at the scene but were unable to revive the deceased woman. The client involved remains in a critical state at Lariboisière hospital.
Following the incident, 150 individuals in the gym were evacuated, and additional staff members received necessary care.
The Paris Prosecutor’s Office announced on Monday, “An investigation into the cause of death has been launched.”
“An autopsy and toxicological analyses have been ordered to determine the precise cause of death, which is believed to have occurred during a cryotherapy session.”
François Vauglin, mayor of the 11th arrondissement of Paris, commented on the incident, stating, “It’s a stupid accident with terrible consequences.”
“It’s infinitely sad. Losing your life for a cryotherapy session is tragic. This type of treatment is not trivial.”