Latest news with #LakeHavasuCityFireDepartment
Straits Times
12-07-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Physical therapist in US dies inside hyperbaric chamber after it catches fire
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Dr Walter Foxcroft was found dead on July 9 inside a hyperbaric oxygen chamber at his health clinic. LAKE HAVASU CITY, Arizona - A 43-year-old physical therapist was found dead on July 9 inside a hyperbaric oxygen chamber at his health clinic in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, after the device caught on fire, according to officials. The Lake Havasu City Fire Department said in a statement on July 10 that fire and police personnel were dispatched to Havasu Health and Hyperbarics on July 9 at 10.50pm local time after receiving a 911 call about a burn victim. When they arrived, they found the building was filled with smoke and an intact hyperbaric chamber appeared to have had a flash fire while a person was inside. The man was pronounced dead at the scene and identified as Dr Walter Foxcroft. He was the owner of the clinic, according to a LinkedIn page in his name. No one else was injured. The Lake Havasu City Fire and Police departments said on July 11 that they were still investigating the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding Dr Foxcroft's death. It was not clear why Dr Foxcroft was in the chamber. The clinic did not immediately respond to a request for comment on July 11. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Air India crash report shows pilot confusion over engine switch movement Business F&B operators face tougher business landscape amid rising costs and stiff competition Business What's in store for policyholders after GE removes pre-authorisation letters for two private hospitals Multimedia Which floor is this? Chongqing's maze-like environment powers its rise as a megacity Business 4 conditions that allow seniors with dementia to sign wills Asia 'Woven air': Ancient fabric spun across history makes comeback amid lies and climate change World 500 tourists evacuated from Grand Canyon wildfires Sport 'A step forward' for golfer Shannon Tan, who makes cut at Evian Championship He is at least the second person to die in 2024 after a fire broke out in a hyperbaric chamber. In February, an oxygen-rich hyperbaric chamber at a medical facility in Michigan exploded and killed a 5-year-old boy, who had been receiving medical treatment. The owner of the medical centre and two employees were later charged with murder and accused of ignoring safety standards, and one worker was charged with manslaughter. Hyperbaric oxygen chambers are pressurised tubes in which patients receive pure oxygen, according to the Mayo Clinic. Patients lie inside and have either a mask or a clear hood placed over their heads. There is a significant risk of fire in and around the chambers because they are an oxygen-rich environment, and it is also not always possible to quickly get out of a chamber when a fire sparks. 'Due to the enclosed and pressurised nature of the chamber, it is impossible to quickly open the door when the chamber is pressurised,' according to the University of Iowa Health Care Medical Centre. The goal of the treatments is to speed up the healing of damaged or infected tissue that is 'starved for oxygen,' and a prescription from a health care provider is required to receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. It is most commonly used to treat serious trauma, such as crushing injuries that block blood flow, carbon dioxide poisoning, decompression sickness or to save limbs that are fighting infection. But on its website, the Arizona clinic appears to advertise hyperbaric oxygen therapy for a variety of treatments that are not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration, including anti-ageing and autism treatments. 'There currently isn't enough research and testing to conclude that hyperbaric oxygen therapy safely and effectively treats these conditions,' according to the Cleveland Clinic. Dr Foxcroft, a Lake Havasu City resident, held a doctorate in physical therapy from Touro University Nevada and a bachelor's degree in physiological science from the University of Arizona, where he was also a mascot, according to the LinkedIn page. Havasu News, a local news site, reported that the clinic had a sign taped to the front door the morning after Dr Foxcroft died saying it was closed until further notice. Several bouquets of flowers and a note had been left at the door. NYTIMES
Daily Mirror
11-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Doctor burned alive inside own hyperbaric oxygen chamber after getting trapped
Dr. Walter Foxcroft, 43, was found burned inside a hyperbaric oxygen chamber at his own practice after he became trapped in the machine when a deadly fire broke out A physical therapist was horrifically found burned alive inside a chamber in his own practice following a fatal freak fire. Dr. Walter Foxcroft, 43, was found dead inside a hyperbaric oxygen chamber by firefighters who rushed in following a flash fire. The blaze ignited while he was in the oxygen therapy machine inside his clinic in Arizona on Wednesday, at around 11pm, turning the space into a kill box. Emergency crews said they saw smoke pouring out of the building when they arrived but came across the harrowing site of the oxygen chamber up in flames as Walter's body was fatally trapped inside. The doctor was at his office, the Havasu Health and Hyperbarics, when crews rushed to put out the blaze, the Lake Havasu City Fire Department said. A hyperbaric oxygen chamber is a sealed enclosure where both air pressure and oxygen levels can be controlled for patients. Fire crews were eventually able to put out the terrifying blaze and retrieve Walter's charred body, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported in this fatal blaze. Officials at the Lake Havasu City said: "The first arriving crews identified smoke throughout the building and an intact hyperbaric chamber that appeared to have had a flash fire in the chamber with one patient inside." It is not clear why the doctor was in the chamber so late at night and the cause of the fire is under investigation by officials. The practice will be closed while authorities carry out their investigation. Walter's classmates, from the University of Arizona where he graduated from in 2005, shared touching tributes to the doctor. He served as the university's mascot, Wilbur T. Wildcat, for three years while as a student. The Cheerleaders & Mascots group, on Instagram, said: "Wally was an unforgettable presence on the sidelines—an energetic, charismatic performer known for his signature moonwalk and passion for bringing joy to Arizona fans. "He proudly returned for Homecoming, reconnecting with current mascots and sharing his spontaneous spirit as Wilbur with all of us." "Wally's dedication to uplifting others—through performance, healing, and innovation—will never be forgotten. Thank you, Wilbur, for the spirit, the showmanship, and the legacy you leave behind." Walter then became a mascot for the Arizona Cardinals American football team after he finished university and even followed the team to the 2006 Superbowl final, before heading back to school, according to his practice's website. He then received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Touro University Nevada in 2012. Walter founded his practice in 2024, which was special as it was Arizona's fire-ever integrative naturopathic hyperbaric oxygen therapy centre.
