Motivational speaker Robbins’ coal walk burns more than 30
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Motivational speaker Tony Robbins was interviewed during a taping of “Wall Street Week,” on the Fox Business Network in New York on March 17. Fire officials said more than 30 people attending a Tony Robbins event, Thursday, in Dallas were treated for burns after the motivational speaker encouraged them to walk on hot coals.
Paramedics tended to injured participants outside the Unleash the Power Within event at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas today. More than 30 people who attended an event with motivational speaker Tony Robbins were treated for burns after Robbins encouraged them to walk on hot coals as a way of conquering their fears, Dallas fire officials said. (Michael Hamtil/The Dallas Morning News via AP)
DALLAS » More than 30 people who attended an event with motivational speaker Tony Robbins have been treated for burns after Robbins encouraged them to walk on hot coals as a way of conquering their fears, Dallas fire officials said.
Five people were taken to a hospital Thursday night, while the rest were treated at the scene for burns to their feet and lower extremities, Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans said.
The hot coals were spread outside the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center as part of a four-day Robbins seminar called “Unleash the Power Within.” It’s a regular part of some of Robbins’ seminars; more than 20 people were treated for foot burns after an event in 2012 in San Jose, California.
Paul Gold of West Palm Beach, Florida, suffered second-degree burns on both feet that will take about two weeks to heal, he told The Associated Press on today from a burn unit. It was the second time he’s walked on hot coals; the first he described as a “very good experience” at a Robbins seminar a few months ago in Florida.
He said the difference Thursday was that it appeared staff members didn’t allow the coals to cool enough before adding more to the pile, which was about 3 to 4 feet wide and about 20 feet long. He realized halfway through his walk over the coals that he’d suffered burns.
“In hindsight, jumping off would have been a fantastic idea,” he said. “But when you’re in the spirit of the moment, you’re kinda focused on one task.”
After his walk, Gold, 44, said it felt like someone had “taken a hot iron and pressed it against my feet.” He also said he saw a girl who was crying and others complaining of burns; his fiancee had minor burns.
“I’m not even sure I could do it again, because now I have this massive fear of fire,” he said, adding later that he still believes Robbins helps a lot of people and that it was staff members who “weren’t following directions properly.”
In a statement to the AP, representatives for Robbins said about 7,000 people walked across the coals and only five “requested any examination beyond what was readily available on site.”
“Someone not familiar with the fire walk observed the event and called 911 erroneously reporting hundreds of people requiring medical attention for severe burns,” according to the statement.
One participant, Jacqueline Luxemberg, told WFAA that some people were not concentrating on walking across the coals because they were taking selfies and asking others to take video of them.
Evans, with Dallas Fire-Rescue, said organizers had the necessary permits for the burning coals.
The fire walk is a voluntary experience and trained medical staff is on hand, according to Susan Thompson, a spokeswoman for Robbins Research International. In the decades that the fire walk has been part of events, very few have suffered any extensive injuries, she said.
Thompson did not know whether participants had to sign a waiver or what instruction was given by staff; Gold said he signed something at registration, but did not know what it said.
The 6-foot-7 Robbins conducts a variety of seminars — which can range from about $1,000 to up to $3,000 — and “Unleash the Power Within” is described on his website as “designed to help you unlock and unleash the forces inside that can help you break through any limit,” and those who do the fire walk are instructed to wear pants that can roll up and avoid loose-fitting or long-flowing clothes.
Robbins says on his website that he believes people who perform tasks they once thought unthinkable, such as walking across hot coals, will help them “conquer the other fires of your life with ease.”
Robbins’ celebrity has resulted in crossover appeal. For instance, he played himself in the 2001 comedy “Shallow Hal” starring Jack Black.
Associated Press reporter Hannah Cushman in Chicago contributed to this report.
26 responses to “Motivational speaker Robbins’ coal walk burns more than 30”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
What da…?
lmao what an idiot
If you play with fire…
^5
Talk about a great motivational speaker. He definitely had that 30th guy believing in himself after watching 29 others burn themselves.
Now that’s what you call motivation. What a fraud.
He has made the move from “Motivational Speaker” to “Cult Leader” now that he has lead people to stupid things like this and injure themselves. When will people ever learn that motivation come from oneself through inspiration and determination. Not from some person asking $300.00 to listen to them bloviate about what it is that you should be doing?
The guy was always a fraud and a bore. Hard to say why people bowed low to him and paid him for vapid talks.
Sorta like people here who support the train.
Lemmings.
Well, I’m here to tell you that you’re probably gonna find out, as you go out there, that you’re not gonna amount to Jack Squat!!” You’re gonna end up eating a steady diet of government cheese, and living in a van down by the river!
Matt Foley – now he was a great motivational speaker.
I sure miss Chris Farley. What a treat it was to watch that guy on SNL. You knew you were in for an aching belly when he came on.
How incredibly dumb can you get?….
Robbins should test the coal walk first.
he meant fire ” run ” not walk
It’s amazing how sheep-like people can be and get suckered into buying or believing anything from the likes of charlatans like Robbins and Trump. Think for yourselves, people! Read, understand, research, investigate, verify, compare and only then decide on a course of action that you and only you choose. Empower yourself. That way you’ll also quit blaming other people for the way things are.
“charlatans like Robbins and Trump”
Kind of a gratuitous cheap shot.
To my knowledge, Robbins has never built or manufactured anything.
Why is the fact that Robbins never built or manufactured anything of relevance. My point was that people are suckered into buying or believing anything. Didn’t these people pay money to attend this motivational event? Don’t they purchase books and videos and other offerings? Or am I wrong and all of this is for free?
barack hussein obama is living proof of your statement. But Robbins was a mere amateur in comparison, suckering in only “more than 30”.
Why is the fact that Robbins never built or manufactured anything of relevance? My point was that people are suckered into buy or believe anything when slick “salesmen” come calling. Didn’t these people pay money to attend this motivational event? Don’t they purchase books and videos and other offerings? Or am I wrong and all of this is for free?
If you go to the pricing section of Robbins’ website, it breaks down the different packages by “level of commitment,” with general admission ($1,095) being the lowest. You’re still entitled to burn your feet however, regardless of your level of commitment.
Next on his calendar is kool-aid tasting.
Didn’t the UH Football team do a fire walk in their Spring Training back in the day?
Yep. Ended the season 0-12 or thereabouts?
Never put your faith in a snake oil salesman.