- Update: FDA Reports Suggest Oxygen and Electronics Involved in Deadly Hyperbaric Chamber Fire
Recent FDA reports have shed new light on the tragic hyperbaric chamber fatality that occurred on July 9, 2025, in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The incident involved a fatal flash fire inside a Fortius 420 hyperbaric chamber manufactured by Oxyhealth. New details from two FDA MAUDE reports1 confirm the incident and raise serious concerns over improper device use, environmental hazards, and disregard for established safety protocols.
Fortius 420 hyperbaric chambers manufactured by Oxyhealth – Havasu Health and Hyperbaric (havasuhealth.com) Probable Cause Points to Oxygen Leak and Electronics
According to the FDA’s Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database, the Fortius 420 hyperbaric chamber was in operation at the time of the incident and was completely destroyed by fire. Investigators reported that several items were recovered from within the chamber, including a melted electronic tablet, a cell phone, and a fan—clear indications that battery-powered electronics were present and in use during treatment.
While the exact ignition source remains under investigation, the evidence suggests that supplemental oxygen delivery systems, combined with these electronic devices, may have contributed to ignition within the oxygen-enriched, pressurized environment. In such conditions, elevated oxygen levels drastically increase the flammability of materials, and even a minor electrical spark can escalate into a flash fire. This combination of oxygen leakage and an ignition source remains the leading theory behind the fatal event.
Disregard for Safety Warnings and Evidence of Noncompliance
Despite long-established fire-safety guidance, many clinics and promotional materials continue to depict unsafe practices. Oxyhealth sales videos2 and marketing images have shown patients and staff using electronic devices inside the Fortius 420 chamber. Such imagery normalizes high-risk behavior and undermines the strict prohibitions that should be enforced in oxygen-enriched environments.
Additionally, several clinics have been documented operating Fortius 420 chambers equipped with dual oxygen connectors inside the vessel. This configuration strongly suggests use for double-occupancy treatments—directly contradicting the chamber’s FDA 510(k) clearance (K041007) as a monoplace device intended for single-patient use. Such unauthorized configurations violate the chamber’s cleared purpose and increase the risk of dangerous oxygen buildup.The Role of Oxyhealth and the International Hyperbarics Association
Both Oxyhealth and affiliated organizations such as the International Hyperbarics Association (IHA) have maintained a public image of safety leadership within the HBOT industry. However, their ongoing promotion of the Fortius 420 without adequate enforcement of safety and usage guidelines raises serious questions about their commitment to clinical safety.
Following the July 2025 incident, the IHA released a statement3 addressing the tragedy, but the message appears to represent a shift in tone rather than a full acknowledgment of responsibility. Historically, IHA materials and affiliated training programs portrayed the use of electronic devices inside hyperbaric chambers as acceptable, especially within “flow-through” oxygen systems promoted by Oxyhealth. Their more recent statement, advising against the use of electronics, effectively reverses their prior position while avoiding acknowledgment that earlier guidance may have contributed to unsafe practices.
By continuing to market the Fortius 420 using imagery and demonstrations that blatantly contradict widely accepted fire safety protocols and FDA-cleared usage, Oxyhealth and its affiliates have contributed to a culture that may underestimate the risks associated with hyperbaric therapy. Former Oxyhealth president Samir Patel—now deceased—regularly downplayed those risks in public-facing materials. In one video from the IHA’s HBOT Workshop, Patel is seen igniting firecrackers and operating a gas burner inside a pressurized portable chamber in an attempt to demonstrate the chamber’s “safety,” and after exiting, jokes, “Tada, I’m not dead!”
In another video, Patel is seen igniting fireworks indoors of the Oxyhealth warehouse where hyperbaric chambers are visibly present—an act that visibly undermines the serious fire risks associated with hyperbaric chambers and oxygen-enriched environments. While likely intended to be provocative or humorous, such demonstrations trivialize critical safety standards and may have contributed to a broader perception that Oxyhealth chambers are inherently safe regardless of conditions. This normalization of risk, reinforced through public displays and promotional materials, may help explain the unsafe practices now observed in some clinical settings.
Fire safety in hyperbaric medicine is not a topic for mockery or demonstration stunts; it is a matter of life and death. The casual dismissal of these risks by those once leading the industry has fostered a culture of complacency that endangers both patients and practitioners. True leadership demands accountability, respect for science, and an unwavering commitment to safety—qualities that must now replace spectacle if tragedies like this are to be prevented again.
A Warning to Patients and Practitioners
Patients seeking hyperbaric oxygen therapy should carefully verify that their chosen facility is accredited and compliant with current safety standards. Treatments should only be performed at centers that prohibit the use of electronics inside chambers, follow approved oxygen handling protocols, and operate strictly within the device’s FDA-cleared indications.
This tragic event is a sobering reminder that even minor deviations from safety standards in pressurized, oxygen-rich environments can lead to catastrophic consequences. Until the industry enforces stronger oversight and accountability, patients are urged to seek care only from accredited, safety-compliant hyperbaric facilities.Sources:
This article was updated FEBRUARY 6, 2026 to include a screenshot of the now “permanently removed” page from the International Hyperbaric Association (IHA) website.
⚠️ Choose an Accredited Hyperbaric Therapy Provider for Your Safety ⚠️
Prospective and current hyperbaric patients must exercise due diligence. Use the links below to find accredited facilities that follow strict safety protocols—and report any that do not.
✅ Search for accredited hyperbaric facilities
- Michigan Hyperbaric Chamber Fatality Update
Court Proceedings Advance Against Four Defendants in Child’s Death
The investigation into the fatal hyperbaric chamber explosion that killed 5-year-old Thomas Cooper in Troy, Michigan, on January 31, 2025, is moving forward in court. The incident occurred at the Oxford Center, a facility offering hyperbaric oxygen therapy for conditions such as autism and ADHD.
From left, Tamela Peterson, Gary Marken, Jeffrey Mosteller and Aleta Moffitt. – Oakland County Sheriff’s Office In March, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced charges against four individuals. Tamela Peterson, 58, CEO of the Oxford Center; Jeffrey Mosteller, 64, Safety Manager; and Gary Marken, 65, primary management assistant, were each charged with one count of Second-Degree Murder, a potential life offense, or alternatively, one count of Involuntary Manslaughter, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Aleta Moffitt, 60, the technician operating the chamber that day, faces one count of Involuntary Manslaughter and one count of Intentionally Placing False Information on a Medical Record, a four-year felony.
According to the Attorney General’s office, the hyperbaric chamber ignited from the inside and burst into flames while Cooper was receiving treatment. Officials stated that both the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Sechrist, the chamber manufacturer, publish strict safety protocols, which the defendants allegedly disregarded. “This tragedy could have been prevented if proper safety protocols were followed,” Attorney General Nessel said. “Instead, deliberate negligence and a blatant disregard for safety cost a child his life.”
Court Proceedings and Facility Inspections
On April 30, all four defendants appeared for a probable cause conference. Attorneys agreed that an inspection of the Troy facility was necessary before preliminary hearings could continue. A temporary restraining order remained in place to preserve evidence. Marken’s bond conditions, including restrictions on travel and church attendance, were reviewed by Judge Maureen McGinnis.
By May 28, additional conferences addressed delays and evidence handling. The defense raised concerns over access to discovery materials and whether privileged communications were affected. The court scheduled further hearings to finalize evidence protocols.
Patients undergoing treatment in Sechrist hyperbaric chambers at The Oxford Center – theoxfordcenter.com Recent Motions and Statements
On July 14, Peterson returned to court for a motion hearing regarding law enforcement’s handling of her electronic devices. The motion was denied after Assistant Attorney General Chris Kessel argued there was no evidence of improper access. However, the court approved Peterson’s request to visit the Oxford Center’s Brighton location under strict conditions to facilitate a property sale.
Throughout the investigation, Troy Police Chief Josh Jones stated, “These arrests reflect the dedication and commitment of our investigators.” The criminal probe was led by the Troy Police Department in coordination with the Attorney General’s office.
Next Steps
The preliminary examinations are scheduled for September 15 and 16, 2025. The court will determine whether the charges—including second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and falsification of medical records—will proceed to trial. As proceedings advance, questions remain about whether industry fire safety standards were followed and whether regulatory gaps contributed to the incident.
Thomas Cooper, 5, was killed in a hyperbaric chamber explosion on Jan. 31, 2025. (Cooper Family) Sources:
Michigan Department of Attorney General – Press Release
⚠️ Choose an Accredited Hyperbaric Therapy Provider for Your Safety ⚠️
Prospective and current hyperbaric patients must exercise due diligence. Use the links below to find accredited facilities that follow strict safety protocols—and report any that do not.
✅ Search for accredited hyperbaric facilities
✅ Download current list of accredited hyperbaric facilities
✅ Report hyperbaric-related incidents and accidents
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