A 24-year-old salon manager ‘froze to death’ inside a cryochamber after she accidentally got locked inside the machine and temperatures plummeted to minus 240 degrees Fahrenheit.
Chelsea Ake, the manager of Rejuvenice in Henderson, Nevada, was found dead inside the salon’s cryochamber earlier this week by distraught employees, NBC reported.
Investigators have ruled her death ‘operator error.’ And preliminary findings suggest that Ake may have used the machine without any assistance and may have suffocated while inside.
Authorities with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration told KSNV that they believed Ake was in the chamber for at least 10 hours altogether.
Cryotherapy is an alternative to cold-water immersion or ice packs, but machines are never used for more than three minutes because temperatures can fall as low as minus 240 degrees Fahrenheit.
Shae-Lynn Bee, Ake’s friend said: ‘I do know that she was alone closing the shop up, and then did go into the machine and apparently did not turn off.’
Bee said Ake, was from Hawaii. Bee, traveled from Hawaii to recover her best friend’s body but says it will take her a long time to come to terms with her loss.
‘Chelsea’s everything to me,’ she added. ‘She was my best friend, and I’m going to miss her dearly.’
‘It’s very frustrating to know because you know there are no cameras in there,’ Bee said.
‘Basically, the only person that does know what happened is Chelsea.’
‘I just want everybody to know she was awesome and she loved everybody.
‘Her legacy will definitely move on through us.’
The owners of Rejuvenice had no comment on the accident but are deeply saddened over the loss.
A post on the salon’s Facebook page said: ‘Tragic ending to a beautiful life. We will all miss you. Rest in Peace.’
