Background: Thomas Cooper (GoFundMe). Inset: The Oxford Center where he died after a hyperbaric chamber exploded (Google Maps).
A 5-year-old Michigan boy died when the hyperbaric chamber he was in exploded, and now his family has hired a lawyer to explore legal options.
In Troy, a suburb of Detroit, emergency responders rushed to the Oxford Center medical facility after reports of an explosion before 8 a.m. on a Friday. Tragically, they discovered the lifeless body of Thomas Cooper in a hyperbaric chamber. His mother, who was present at the time, also sustained injuries.
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Following the harrowing incident, the family decided to enlist the services of prominent lawyer Geoffrey Fieger, known for representing Dr. Jack Kevorkian and the families affected by the 2021 Oxford High School shooting. James Harrington, Fieger law’s managing partner, expressed deep sympathy for the family and urged both the public and media to respect their privacy during this trying period.
Harrington emphasized the gravity of the situation, underscoring the paramount importance of child safety. He highlighted the pressing need to scrutinize hyperbaric chambers, as well as the supervision and regulation surrounding hyperbaric treatments. The legal team continues to delve into all aspects of the case and promises to disclose their findings in due course.
Meanwhile, investigators are trying to determine what caused the explosion. While uncommon, the chamber contains 100 percent oxygen inside, which makes it highly combustible. It’s unclear why the boy needed to be inside the chamber, but it is typically used for carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness or inflammatory bowel diseases, among other uses, according to the National Library of Medicine.
