Wim Hof: Difference between revisions

Concerning cold exposure, [[American Heart Association|The American Heart Association]] and the [[British Heart Foundation]] have issued warnings about cold therapy, advising consulting with a physician before attempting, and noting that there is poor evidence supporting the practice.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tapper |first=James |date=2023-10-01 |title=Cure or killer? The rewards – and very real risks – of the cold water plunge |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/oct/01/cure-or-killer-the-rewards-and-very-real-risks-of-the-cold-water-plunge |access-date=2024-05-13 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=You're not a polar bear: The plunge into cold water comes with risks |url=https://www.heart.org/en/news/2022/12/09/youre-not-a-polar-bear-the-plunge-into-cold-water-comes-with-risks |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=www.heart.org |language=en}}</ref> As of March 2024 there are 32 reports of people allegedly dying in relation to the Wim Hof Method.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carney |first=Scott |date=March 2024 |title=Public Wim Hof Method Deaths and Incident Reports |url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Kq4JvfC8IP7Fz8l_dyf4CuD4gZxpYv6HJEjcXyLOSUk/edit#gid=0 |access-date=March 8, 2023}}</ref> Four practitioners drowned in 2015 and 2016, and relatives suspected the breathing exercises were to blame.<ref name="Tijmstra">{{cite web |last1=Tijmstra |first1=Fannie |last2=Bomers |first2=Loes |date=10 June 2016 |title='Iceman' onder vuur |trans-title='Iceman' under fire |url=https://eenvandaag.avrotros.nl/item/iceman-onder-vuur/ |access-date=23 February 2019 |publisher=[[EenVandaag]] |language=nl}}</ref><ref name="Duin">{{cite news |last1=Duin |first1=Roelf Jan |date=2 July 2016 |title='Iceman'-oefening eist opnieuw leven |language=nl |trans-title='Iceman' exercise claims a new life |newspaper=[[Het Parool]] |url=http://www.parool.nl/binnenland/-iceman-oefening-eist-opnieuw-leven~a4332186 |access-date=23 February 2019}}</ref> In 2021, a Singaporean man drowned in a condominium pool when attempting the method.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coroner cautions against practising Wim Hof breathing method underwater after man drowns |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/wim-hof-breathing-method-coroner-man-drown-2436121 |access-date=2022-01-14 |website=CNA |language=en}}</ref> A $67 million lawsuit was filed against Innerfire and Wim Hof in 2022 that alleged 17-year-old Madelyn Rose Metzger died after performing the Wim Hof Method in her pool in Long Beach, California.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RAPHAEL METZGER VS WIM HOF, ET AL. |url=https://unicourt.com/case/ca-la23-raphael-metzger-vs-wim-hof-et-al-951604 |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=UniCourt |language=en}}</ref> The plaintiff is seeking an injunction against Hof and Innerfire teaching the method in the United States again.<ref>{{Citation |title=The Rise and Fall of the Wim Hof Empire |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu5CkkaHB1A&list=PL2TVEkr1lWIIm0U8dEKcc8JuBFM3LwHUc |access-date=2023-06-29 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-26 |title=The Rise and Fall of the Wim Hof Empire |url=https://www.scottcarney.com/blog/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-wim-hof-empire |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=Scott Carney |language=en-US}}</ref> The trial date was set for January 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RAPHAEL METZGER VS WIM HOF, ET AL. |url=https://unicourt.com/case/ca-la23-raphael-metzger-vs-wim-hof-et-al-951604 |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=UniCourt |language=en}}</ref> Wim Hof has been acquitted of causing the death of Madelyn Rose Metzger by the court in California for lack of proof about one month before the trial date set for the end of July 2024. <ref>{{Cite web |title= ”Iceman” Wim Hof cleared of causing death of American teenager |url= https://www.dutchnews.nl/2024/07/iceman-wim-hof-cleared-of-causing-death-of-american-teenager/?utm_source=ground.news&utm_medium=referral |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=DutchNews |language=en-us}}</ref> At least three people drowned in the summer of 2023 with their family citing Wim Hof breathing as the cause.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Luke Kantowitz Obituary - Westwood, NJ |url=https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/westwood-nj/luke-kantowitz-11354184 |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=Dignity Memorial |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Moser |first=Ashley |date=2023-07-06 |title=Family urges others to have designated spotter at pool parties after father drowns |url=https://ksltv.com/565271/family-urges-others-to-have-designated-spotter-at-pool-parties-after-father-drowns/ |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=KSLTV.com}}</ref> At least oneOne person has died after cold water therapy session favoredin bythe UK celebritiesin 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Woman tragically dies after cold water therapy session favoured by celebs |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/woman-tragically-dies-cold-water-111600703.html |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=finance.yahoo.com |date=28 April 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref>