Arizona man is killed while inside a hyperbaric chamber that caught fire

A hyperbaric chamber caught fire in Arizona, leading to the gruesome death of a 43-year-old man inside the highly pressurized, oxygen-filled compartment, authorities said Thursday.

Police officers and firefighters in the resort community of Lake Havasu City rushed to the 1800 block of Mesquite Avenue at about 10:50 p.m. MST on Wednesday answering calls for a "reported medical emergency for a burn patient," city officials said.

"The 911 caller’s information added that the patient was inside a hyperbaric chamber when the burns occurred," according to a city statement.

"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. The patient was pronounced deceased upon arrival of emergency crew."

The victim was identified as physical therapist Walter "Wally" Foxcroft, a native of Lake Havasu City.

"The cause of the flash fire and the circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation," the city said.

Foxcroft graduated from the University of Arizona, where he played the role of Wilbur T. Wildcat from 2002 to 2005, according to the school's cheerleading team.

"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," the cheer squad said in a statement.

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"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."

A hyperbaric chamber can be used in any number of treatments, as it pumps highly concentrated oxygen into a patient's body.

This tragedy is sure to increase scrutiny of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in what are often unregulated healthcare facilities.

Thomas Cooper, a 5-year-old Michigan boy, was killed Jan. 31 when a fire broke out in a hyperbaric chamber at the Oxford Center, an alternative medicine clinic in the Detroit suburb of Troy.

That facility's founder and CEO and three of her employees were charged in Thomas’ death.