Michigan boy, 5, dies; mother injured when hyperbaric chamber explodes at medical facility

A 5-year-old boy is dead and his mother was harmed after a hyperbaric chamber exploded while they were at a Troy, Michigan medical facility Friday.

The victim was in the hyperbaric chamber when the pressurized device exploded and caught flames. The boy died at the scene while his mother, who was nearby, suffered injuries.

Troy Police said the fire was extinguished within minutes. There were no further damages or reported injuries.

Hyperbaric chambers are used for limb-saving, tissue-saving, low red blood cell counts, and hearing loss treatments.

“A hyperbaric chamber contains 100% oxygen, which is up to five times the amount of oxygen in a normal room,” Troy Fire Department Lt. Keith Young said.

“The presence of such a high amount of oxygen in a pressurized can make it extremely combustible.”