Industry News
Dutch ‘Iceman’ Wim Hof was sued last December by the family of a California teenager, who was found dead at the bottom of the family pool in August 2022. The teenager, named as Madelyn Rose Metzger, was allegedly using Wim Hof’s breathing technique before passing out and drowning.
Her father Raphael Metzger is seeking $67 million in damages, and also asking courts to require Hof to post warnings on his website and promotional materials that the Wim Hof breathing method is dangerous.
The Dutch motivational speaker has been promoting the ‘Wim Hof Method’, which is a combination of frequent cold exposure, breathing techniques and meditation. The athlete attributes his record breaking stunts, such as swimming under ice or running a half marathon barefoot on snow, to practicing the Wim Hof Method and has garnered a large following. He holds regular seminars around the globe promoting his breathing technique and the use of ice-baths.
It is not the first death that is alleged to have been caused by someone practicing the Wim Hof Method. Following the death of a Spanish man at a spa hotel in Scotland, U.K., this week, there are now a total of 14 deaths attributed to the contested breathing technique.
Wim Hof and his company Innerfire BV deny all allegations and stress that they have no business interests and thus liabilities in America.
