A physical therapist was burned alive inside a hyperbaric chamber at his Arizona practice when a flash fire ignited in the oxygen therapy machine Wednesday, turning it into a literal deathtrap.
Dr. Walter Foxcroft, 43, was found dead inside the chamber by firefighters who rushed to his office, Havasu Health and Hyperbarics, after receiving a report of a fire there around 11 p.m., the Lake Havasu City Fire Department said.
When the first responders arrived, smoke was already billowing through the building.
They scanned the building and came across the grisly scene in which the hyperbaric chamber was turned into a fiery coffin with Foxcroft’s scorched body trapped inside, according to officials.
His corpse was recovered from the chamber and he was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported, according to the fire department.
Hyperbaric chambers, sealed enclosures where air pressure and oxygen levels inside can be controlled, are used for patients’ physical and mental health — aiding with anything from cognition and dementia to physical aging, according to the Havasu Health and Hyperbarics website.
It is unclear why the doctor was inside the chamber late at night.
Foxcroft, a 2005 University of Arizona graduate, was remembered by his classmates following his horrific death.
He had served as the university’s mascot, Wilbur T. Wildcat, for three years, according to the Arizona Cheerleaders & Mascots.
“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. He proudly returned for Homecoming, reconnecting with current mascots and sharing his spontaneous spirit as Wilbur with all of us,” the group wrote on Instagram.
“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.”
After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Physiological Sciences, Foxcroft deviated from his studies and stuck to the mascot life — becoming Big Red for the Arizona Cardinals. He followed the team all the way to Super Bowl XLIII in 2006 before hanging up his helmet and pivoting back to school, according to his biography on his practice’s website.
Foxcroft earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Touro University Nevada in 2012, according to his LinkedIn.
He had just founded Havasu Health and Hyperbarics in 2024, which is also the Grand Canyon State’s first-ever integrative naturopathic hyperbaric oxygen therapy center, according to KARK.com.
The practice will be closed until further notice while authorities investigate the devastating fire.
The exact cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
A similar freak accident occurred at the beginning of the year when a 5-year-old boy receiving treatment in a hyperbaric chamber was incinerated after a fiery explosion inside the machine.
Four staffers at the Michigan clinic were later hit with a mix of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter charges.
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