5-Year-Old Boy Tragically Killed in Explosion of Pressurized Oxygen Chamber in the US | World News
A five-year-old boy was tragically “incinerated” when a pressurised oxygen chamber exploded at a medical facility in Michigan, USA.
Four individuals have been charged in connection with the child’s death at the Oxford Centre in Detroit, according to Michigan’s attorney general.
Thomas Cooper, a resident of Michigan, was declared dead at the scene. His mother, who was near the chamber at the time of the explosion on January 31, sustained arm injuries.
“It seems that a single spark ignited a blaze that claimed Thomas’s life in mere seconds,” said attorney general Dana Nessel during a news conference on Tuesday.
“Fires inside hyperbaric chambers are deemed terminal events. Each such fire is nearly always lethal, which is why numerous procedures and vital safety protocols have been established to prevent fires from occurring in the first place.”
The founder and CEO of the centre, Tamela Peterson, has been charged with second-degree murder, as indicated by online court documents.
Facility manager Gary Marken, aged 65, safety manager Gary Mosteller, aged 64, and Aleta Moffitt, aged 60, who operated the hyperbaric chamber that day, have also been charged.
Marken and Mosteller face charges of both second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.
Moffitt is charged with involuntary manslaughter and deliberately providing false medical information on a medical record.
Raymond Cassar, Marken’s attorney, expressed that the second-degree murder charge was “a total shock” to him and his client.
“To be fair, he is presumed innocent,” Mr. Cassar stated.
“This is a heart-wrenching accident, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of this little boy.
“I must emphasize that this was an accident, not a deliberate act. We will rely on experts to determine the cause of this incident.”
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According to NBC News, Sky News’ US partner network, the family’s lawyer stated that the boy had undergone multiple hyperbaric therapy sessions for both sleep apnea and ADHD.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved hyperbaric chambers for marketing as safe and effective for a range of 13 conditions, including severe burns, decompression sickness, and non-healing wounds.
However, the FDA’s approved list does not encompass several other conditions promoted by the Oxford Centre, such as sleep apnea and ADHD.
Additionally, the FDA advises consumers to utilize hyperbaric centres that have been inspected and accredited by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society.
Notably, the Oxford Centre does not appear on the society’s list of accredited facilities as of February 2025.
