Manager 'Suffocated' In Freezing Cryochamber

A woman has died in what appears to be a freak accident involving a freezing chamber used in the sports injury industry.

Chelsea Ake may have "frozen to death" in a cryochamber at the store where she worked in Henderson, near Las Vegas, Nevada, her family fear.

Cryochambers are devices - similar to vertical tanning booths - that chill the body and claim to relieve pain or speed recovery after exercise.

KSNV News 3 said Ms Ake is believed to have been alone in the Rejuvenice store when she went into one of the chambers and died earlier this week.

The 24-year-old, originally from Hawaii, was the manager of the business.

Her friend Shae-Lynn Bee, also from Hawaii, told the news channel: "We believe she was in there but we don't know how it happened.

"I do know that she was alone closing the shop up, and then did go into the machine and apparently it didn't turn off.

"It's very frustrating to know because you know there are no cameras in there. Basically, the only person that does know what happened is Chelsea.

"Chelsea's everything to me. She was my best friend and I'm going to miss her dearly."

It is understood that the temperature in cryochambers can fall to as low as -115 Celsius.

According to Rejuvenice's website: "The cryochamber is a multi-person walk-in device which exposes the patient's entire body to hypercooled room-air.

"Here up to three people can undergo treatment simultaneously, which is popular with groups of athletes and couples.

"Both devices reach temperatures of about -240 degrees F, and they are equally effective.

"All devices are equipped with numerous safety features and doors are never locked, which allows clients to stop treatment instantaneously at any time.

"The dress code during treatment is minimal, as maximum skin exposure to the cold air is desired."

The treatment is apparently being used by some athletes as an alternative to cold water immersion or ice packs.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration say they believe Ms Ake was in the device for at least 10 hours.

A police investigation said it was likely that she used the machine without any assistance and may have suffocated.

Officers came to the conclusion that her death was as a result of "operator error".

A spokesman for the company told KSNV that they had no comment on the accident other than they would be mourning with her family and are saddened at the loss of their friend.