A woman died and another was left fighting for her life after a cryotherapy chamber malfunctioned at a Paris gym — leaking gas into the pod.
An employee at On Air gym, who was in her 20s, died after a suspected nitrogen leak during a cryotherapy treatment session, while a client, a woman in her 30s, was hospitalized, AFP reported, citing police sources.
“An investigation into the cause of death has been launched,” the Paris public prosecutor’s office said in a statement.
The client was reportedly taking part in a cryotherapy session when nitrogen gas leaked from a cold chamber just before 6:30 p.m. local time.
Three other people who tried to revive the woman were rushed to the hospital, and 150 were evacuated from the building.
A body was seen being carried out covered in a white sheet and screens were set up outside the building.
During whole body cryotherapy, the patient is subjected to -148°F temperatures for a time of no more than three minutes.
Nitrogen — a colorless, odorless gas — is commonly used during cryotherapy.
This exposure to sub-freezing temperatures causes the body to limit blood flow and release hormones, including adrenaline and endorphins.
Supporters of the treatment say it reduces muscle soreness, stress, rheumatism, and skin conditions.
A number of prominent athletes and other celebrities have reportedly used cryotherapy in the past, including LeBron James, Floyd Mayweather, Demi Moore, Joe Rogan, and Jennifer Aniston.
But experts warn that its benefits have not yet been medically proven and it requires further scrutiny to determine the short- and long-term effects.
In 2015, a 24-year-old woman died after freezing to death during cryotherapy treatment at a Las Vegas spa.
Chelsea Patricia Ake-Salvacion was believed to have entered one of the chambers after business hours, and her body was discovered the following day by a coworker.
