One individual has lost their life, while another is in critical condition following a nitrogen leak from a cold chamber during a cryotherapy session in the French capital, as reported by investigators.
The incident took place last night at a small sports facility situated in the 11th district of Paris, according to a police source.
Initial reports suggest that a nitrogen leak from the cryochamber is suspected to have caused the poisoning, according to a source familiar with the investigation. A gym employee in her late 20s has died.
A client, in her 30s, has been hospitalized and is in critical condition.
Three individuals who provided first aid to the victims also required treatment, as indicated by the police source.
The gym, which had 150 patrons present at the time of the incident, was evacuated shortly thereafter.
Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless gas frequently utilized in cryotherapy.
During a session in a walk-in chamber, a person is exposed to temperatures below -100° Celsius for a recommended duration of no more than three minutes.
Proponents claim that whole-body cryotherapy is effective in alleviating muscle soreness, stress, rheumatism, and various skin ailments.
Numerous star athletes and celebrities have turned to whole-body cryotherapy as an alternative to ice packs and cold water baths.
However, many experts caution that the treatment lacks medical validation and are advocating for further research to explore the short- and long-term effects.
Cryotherapy came under examination in the United States in 2015 when a woman tragically froze to death at a Las Vegas spa.
The 24-year-old was believed to have entered one of the spa’s cold chambers after hours to alleviate some discomfort and was discovered the following day by a colleague.
