A MUM died after plunging into an ice-cold river at a celebrity therapy camp loved by Coleen Rooney. The woman, 39, went in with pals and an instructor on Monday for a session to aid breathing. But moments later she collapsed and was dragged to the river bank where a frantic bid to save her […]
A MUM died after plunging into an ice-cold river at a celebrity therapy camp loved by Coleen Rooney.
The woman, 39, went in with pals and an instructor on Monday for a session to aid breathing.
But moments later she collapsed and was dragged to the river bank where a frantic bid to save her life began.
The mum-of-three later died in hospital, leaving her husband “utterly devastated”.
His wife and two pals paid up to £200 for a two-hour session with therapist Kevin O’Neill, who runs Breatheolution in Buxworth, Derbyshire.
Ex-footballer Wayne’s wife Coleen, 36, travelled there last October, and posed in the River Goyt with brothers Joe and Anthony McLoughlin.
She posted online: “What a way to start the week…Monday morning in freezing cold water.”
The craze also inspired the BBC’s new reality show, Freeze the Fear With Wim Hof, starring ex-footballer Patrice Evra and TV host Gabby Logan.
Mr O’Neill said last night he was “reeling” from the death.
He told The Sun: “I am heartbroken. I’ve not slept and I’m finding it hard to process. I cannot stop thinking about her family. It’s tragic.”
He told how the group, who arrived from Manchester, slowly acclimatised to the cold river before gently lowering down to their shoulders.
He said the woman was “laughing” before suddenly collapsing. He then helped her to the bank where he performed CPR as paramedics and an air ambulance raced to the scene.
Mr O’Neill added: “I have taken 1,100 people into the water over two years and nothing like this has ever happened. It’s a freak incident and very sadly someone has lost their life.”
He said everyone signs a waiver, is asked about their medical history and if they are taking any medication.
He also warned last year: “When you submerge your whole body into cold water it goes through a lot of physiological and chemical changes. You can soon get into trouble.”
Other celebrities who have visited his camp include ex-Manchester United ace Chris Smalling and Line of Duty star Stephen Graham.
A Derbyshire Police spokeswoman said it got a call from the ambulance service at 4.15pm on Monday.
She added: “Several officers attended. Paramedics took the 39-year-old woman to hospital but she was later pronounced dead.
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“There are no suspicious circumstances and we are preparing a file for the coroner.”
Chesterfield Coroners Office said it had been notified.
