Annie Cooper watched in horror as her darling 5-year-old son was burned alive because she was unable to force open the hyperbaric oxygen chamber that had imprisoned him in a lethal fire.
Five-year-old Thomas Cooper was brought to the Oxford Center, an alternative healthcare institution, on January 31 to undergo hyperbaric chamber treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and sleep apnea.
“This wasn’t a life-saving procedure that was absolutely necessary. As the family’s attorney, James Harrington, told NBC News, “It was just a mother who was trying to help her son with some conditions that he had and was promised that these conditions and this treatment would be able to help.”
He continues by stating that Thomas had previously attended several sessions at the Oxford Center, located in the Troy suburb of Detroit, and that “Annie was trying to help her child as any parent would – as good parents do.”
Oxygen treatment
According to its website, the hospital treats more than 100 diseases, including cancer, dyslexia, autism, and Alzheimer’s. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for such disorders.
The FDA has approved hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which delivers 100% oxygen in a pressurized, confined tube-like chamber, to treat a few ailments, including carbon monoxide poisoning, specific burns and wounds, and decompression sickness in scuba divers.
A fiery explosion
According to the Troy Fire Department, officers and firefighters responded to an emergency call at the Oxford Center at 7:54 a.m.
When first responders got there, they discovered that a child named Thomas had “deceased inside” a hyperbaric chamber that had detonated.
The oxygen content of a hyperbaric chamber is 100%, which is up to three times more than that of a typical room. According to a statement from Troy Police, “this type of incident is uncommon.” “The presence of such a high amount of oxygen in a pressurized environment can make it extremely combustible.”
Horrifiedly observing
As Thomas, a momma’s child, was burned alive, his mother Annie Cooper stood beside the oxygen chamber and watched in despair.
According to Harrington, “she was trying and trying to get him out, and was unsuccessful.” She also suffered severe burns on her arm during a rescue attempt to try to get her child out of the flaming flames.
He went on to say, “She does have visible burns.” “However, the emotional trauma will be the true issue for her.”
“Totally devastated”
Thomas “was the smartest and cutest kid that liked to zoom, zoom, zoom,” according to a GoFundMe page set up to provide the family with financial help. The campaign organizer reports that it has raised $65,000 of its $75,000 target. “I love mama, I love mama, I love mama so very much,” he would sing. “My momma is the best in the world,” he also loved to say.
He desired to become a chef when he grew up. When his mother questioned why, he replied, “so I can be with mommy forever.”He was adored by his family. His parents cherished him for who he was—a bright, clever youngster. Everything about him was flawless. There has never been a better boy than him.
“The safety and wellbeing of the children we serve is our highest priority,” the Oxford Center said in a statement about the incident that was provided to the Detroit Free Press. In our more than 15 years of offering this kind of therapy, nothing similar has occurred. We will take part in all of the investigations that must now be conducted because we are unsure of how or why this occurred.
The boy’s family, Harrington said, is “absolutely devastated” by his passing and intends to sue “to make sure that this doesn’t happen again.”
Thomas, may you rest in peace. Kindly leave your warmest regards for the family in the space provided below, then spread the word about this tale and encourage your friends to follow suit.
