Hyperbaric chamber explosion kills Michigan 5-year-old, injures mother

A 5-year-old boy receiving treatment at a Michigan medical center died after the hyperbaric chamber he was in exploded.

The blast occurred on Friday at The Oxford Medical Center in Troy, just north of Detroit, according to statements from the Troy police and fire departments.

When first responders arrived on the scene around 8 a.m., they discovered a child dead inside the exploded hyperbaric chamber. The boy’s name has not been released, but authorities have confirmed he was a 5-year-old from Royal Oak. It’s not clear what he was being treated for.

The boy’s mother was also injured in the blast. Police said she was standing near the chamber when it exploded, resulting in injuries to both of her arms.

Staff from the center were also in the room at the time, but they were not hurt in the incident. Officials said the explosion was contained to the chamber and firefighters were able to quickly put out the resulting flames.

“Nothing like this has happened in our more than 15 years of providing this type of therapy,” the Oxford Center said in a statement. “We do not know why or how this happened and will participate in all of the investigations that now need to take place.”

A hyperbaric chamber contains 100% oxygen, which is up to three times the amount of oxygen in a normal room, Troy Fire Lt. Keith Young told reporters during a news conference Friday. The chamber is used to increase the delivery of oxygen to a person’s body by pushing pure oxygen into an enclosed space with higher than normal air pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic.

While the treatment can help a slew of medical issues — from poisoning to crush injuries and decompression sickness — it is not without its risks.

“The presence of such a high amount of oxygen in a pressurized environment can make it extremely combustible,” Young said. “We did some initial investigation. This is very uncommon, so we’re not sure what led up to it.”

The investigation into the explosion and fire will be turned over to the state, Young said.

With News Wire Services