A former Hawaii resident working as a manager at a cryogenic therapy salon in Nevada died last week shortly after entering a deep-freeze therapy tank, her stepfather said Monday.
Chelsea Ake-Salvacion, 24, likely passed out in a matter of seconds while inside a cryogenic chamber Oct. 19, according to a discussion with a coroner, said Brian Takaba.
A graduate of Roosevelt High School, Ake-Salvacion had worked at Rejuvenice in Henderson, Nev., for about two years.
Takaba said some details tied to Ake-Salvacion’s death, which occurred near the salon’s closing time, remain unknown because there were no witnesses and no cameras in the room containing the cryogenic chamber. Cameras were in place outside the room.
“All they show is she went into the room where that chamber is,” Takaba said, adding that an employee found her the next morning.
According to The New York Times, after working an evening shift at the Rejuvenice spa, Ake-Salvacion had stayed to give herself a cryotherapy session. At about 7:30 p.m. she sent a text message to her boyfriend, telling him that her body was aching and that she was going to hop into one of the tanks for a bit.
A co-worker told the Times that Ake-Salvacion used to work out at a gym across the street from Rejuvenice.
Cryotherapy is billed as an excellent source of relief for muscle pain. “She must have been really sore,” said Hailey Cap, office manager at Rejuvenice. “I don’t know why she would go in there alone. We don’t do that.” One reason people do not try it solo, Cap said, is that the nitrous gas used to chill the air can be debilitating.
Takaba said as part of the therapy, pure liquid nitrogen gas is injected into the chamber. The cryochamber dress code requires wearing a mask, earmuffs, underwear, slippers, socks and gloves.
Rejuvenice services include whole-body therapy with brief exposures to air temperatures below minus 240 degrees Fahrenheit.
On its website, Rejuvenice said cryotherapy, meaning cold therapy, aims to reduce inflammation and pain, accelerate tissue healing, strengthen the immune system and improve blood circulation, and has an anti-aging effect.
In addition to her stepfather, Ake-Salvacion is survived by companion Lee Inouye, mother Patricia Takaba and stepbrothers Jordan and Zachary. Visitation is set for 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary. Services will begin at 6 p.m, followed by cremation. Casual attire. No flowers.
