Cryotherapy, a treatment involving exposure to extremely low temperatures, tragically resulted in the death of a 29-year-old gym employee in Paris this week. A second woman remains in critical condition following the incident at the On Air gym.
The incident occurred Monday evening in east-central Paris. Initial reports suggest a nitrogen leak from the cryotherapy machine caused the fatality. The 29-year-old employee and a 34-year-old woman were found in cardiac arrest when emergency services arrived. Three other individuals who attempted to assist the women were also hospitalized, and approximately 150 people were evacuated from the building.
Whole-body cryotherapy, a popular form of the treatment, exposes individuals to subzero temperatures for short periods. Proponents suggest potential benefits such as pain and inflammation relief and improved sleep. Some studies have explored these potential advantages, indicating possible positive effects.
Cryotherapy machines often utilize liquid nitrogen to achieve these ultra-low temperatures, which can reportedly reach -148 degrees Fahrenheit (-100 degrees Celsius). However, gaseous nitrogen is both odorless and colorless, posing significant safety risks. The European Industrial Gases Association (EIGA) has previously warned about the dangers of improperly maintained or designed cryotherapy machines. Excessive nitrogen gas leakage can displace oxygen, leading to asphyxiation.
According to police, the machine in question had undergone repairs earlier that day. While the faulty repair is suspected to be the cause, authorities are conducting a thorough investigation. A spokesperson for the Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that an autopsy and toxicology analysis will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.
This incident is not the first cryotherapy-related fatality. A similar tragedy occurred in 2015 when a spa employee in Las Vegas died from accidental suffocation while using a cryotherapy machine.
While cryotherapy deaths are rare, this recent event highlights the potential dangers associated with this emerging practice. The ongoing investigation will hopefully shed more light on the circumstances surrounding this tragedy and contribute to improved safety measures in the future.
