Image: Family Handout)
A grieving Texas mother, Emily Smith, is speaking out after her 23-year-old son, Nova Xavier, tragically died while experimenting with the Wim Hof Method, a wellness approach that includes breathing techniques and cold exposure. Smith believes the method, as outlined in a popular book by Wim Hof, led directly to her son’s death, calling it “pretty much a guaranteed death sentence.”
Nova’s death is one of at least 11 reportedly linked to the Wim Hof Method, according to an investigation by The Sunday Times. The method, which encourages controlled hyperventilation and breath-holding, has garnered widespread attention and praise from celebrities and health enthusiasts, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Liam Hemsworth, and Oprah Winfrey.
Smith recounted the devastating incident, which took place on July 17, 2023, in the pool at her mother’s gated community in Kingwood, Houston. Nova, who had become deeply engrossed in the method’s breathing exercises, invited his mother to try it with him. They both practiced the technique, which involves hyperventilating and holding one’s breath underwater. “I was copying him. We did it about three times, coming up for air between each round,” Smith said. “At one point, I asked him: ‘Is this safe?’ and he responded something along the lines of: ‘Of course it’s safe, mom – it’s Wim Hof.'”
After practicing together, Smith decided to swim laps while Nova continued on his own. But in the brief time it took her to say a prayer while swimming, Nova lost consciousness and sank to the bottom of the shallow end of the pool. “When I looked back and didn’t see him, I thought to myself, ‘he can’t possibly be holding his breath for that long.’ A dreadful feeling washed over me,” Smith said. Realizing something was terribly wrong, she swam as fast as she could and saw Nova’s silhouette beneath the water.
In a frantic attempt to save him, Smith dragged her son’s 6’2” frame out of the water and performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, but it was too late. A neighbor, alerted by Smith’s screams, rushed over and called 911. Paramedics arrived and administered epinephrine while performing CPR, but Nova could not be revived.
Smith believes the breathing exercises played a critical role in her son’s quick demise. “It likely took less than two minutes for my son to die from hypoxia,” she explained, suggesting that the hyperventilation technique caused his brain to become oxygen-deprived more rapidly than it would in a typical drowning.
Despite Smith’s heartbreak, representatives for Wim Hof have defended the method, emphasizing that the guide explicitly warns against prolonged breath-holding underwater. Erik Hof, a spokesman for Wim Hof, told DailyMail that the guide includes a section in which users are cautioned to only hold their breath for short periods—up to 20 seconds—in cold water. He expressed deep sadness over Nova’s death but maintained that Nova had gone beyond the recommended practices. “Week eight of the guide involves ‘a limited breath hold of up to 20 seconds in cold water,’ and ‘not the extended breath holds Nova did,'” Hof said.
While Wim Hof’s method has received praise for its health benefits, Smith hopes that sharing her story will raise awareness about the potential dangers of the techniques, especially when not followed correctly. As she continues to mourn the loss of her only child, she remains determined to prevent similar tragedies from happening to others.
