After a couple were found dead in their scorching motel bath, experts have issued potentially lifesaving warnings about the dangers – with key signs to be aware of
The tragedy of a couple who died together in a scorching hot bath after a night out, leaving their little girl orphaned, has sparked shock across the world.
And now health experts have warned of the potential dangers of extremely hot baths as the devastating incident leaves two families in mourning.
Nail salon owner Ana Carolina Silva, 41, and military officer Jeferson Luiz Sagaz, 37, were found dead inside a motel bathtub in São José, Brazil, on August 11.
Investigators say the couple, who’d been out clubbing after their four-year-old daughter’s birthday party, passed out in the scorching water, which had reached temperatures of 50C. A space heater had also been set to high.
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A toxicology report also found traces of cocaine and very high blood alcohol levels for both Jeferson and Ana.
“The cause of both deaths was exogenous poisoning, favouring the process of heatstroke with intense dehydration, thermal collapse, culminating in organ failure and death,” Chief Medical Examiner Andressa Boer Fronza said.
The official medical report states that the substances combined with alcohol and extreme heat increased their risk of death. A total of 16 forensic tests, carried out by the Civil Police, ruled out possible causes of death including electric shock, drowning, carbon monoxide poisoning or foul play.
While many enjoy a hot bath for therapeutic purposes, experts have warned that such benefits can be outweighed by serious risks if the proper precautions are not taken.
Speaking with the Mirror, Dr Anisha Patel explained: “The problem with very hot baths is that when you go into hot water, your blood vessels dilate and it lowers your blood pressure. Therefore, you’ve put increased work on your heart as well.
“For some people, that mimics what happens when you have a light workout. And actually, regular bathing is generally not bad for you as it can actually improve blood pressure.
“But if you’ve got a history of feeling faint, having a really hot bath might make you feel dizzy or collapse, especially if you’ve got a history of low blood pressure or heart problems. Your body has to work hard to cool itself.”
Highlighting how drugs and alcohol can heighten such dangers, Dr Anisha continued: “Alcohol and drugs dilate blood vessels, and they also sort of dampen down the signals in your nervous system. Therefore, these two things in combination can put more strain on your heart and drop your blood pressure further.
“And so that’s why some people can unfortunately feel quite unwell and sometimes lose consciousness as a result when you’ve got this combination. Recreational drugs like cannabis, cocaine, and MDA can actually have similar or worse effects than alcohol because they also affect the way the body regulates its temperature and heart rhythm. Then, you add in a hot bath as well, it can get harmful.
“If your body goes above forty degrees, it can push your body into Hyperthermia for a prolonged state of time when your core temperature rises, and that can cause confusion, like weakness, nausea, fainting. So I think it’s the messaging in this is the combination rather than a hot bath per se.
“In terms of what’s safe, keeping your bath less than forty degrees, limiting time to up to twenty minutes, and avoiding drugs and alcohol. And obviously, staying hydrated to reduce any adverse effects.”
Following the police investigation, Ana’s family unequivocally stated that she was “not a drug user”, while expressing “concerns of possible forced ingestion or poisoning”.
In a statement shared with the media, they said: “Although reports indicate the presence of substances in her blood, we affirm with complete certainty that Ana was not a drug user.
“Given the inconsistencies, we raise serious concerns about possible forced ingestion or poisoning and demand a rigorous, transparent and impartial investigation.”
They went on to emphasise their wish to “preserve Ana’s memory and dignity, [and to] ensure that the truth prevails over cruel and unjust speculation”.
Meanwhile, chief inspector Felipe Simao told a press conference that although the couple “had a busy social life but did not have a drug habit”, noting, “The big issue raised in the statements we took, talking to people involved in this, is that they did not have the habit of using cocaine.”
Simao added: “It may be that the physical constitution, both his and hers, were not compatible with the use of a substance like that, especially when combined with alcohol.”
The couple’s tragic death isn’t the first fatal accident involving a bathtub. Earlier this year, another mum died in eerily similar circumstances.
Gabriele Cristine Barreto de Freitas, 24, fell unconscious in a hot tub at a motel room. She was left with horrendous burns across her body and woke up screaming in agony.
Heartbreakingly, she later died with third-degree burns. The woman went into cardiac arrest and couldn’t be saved. The mum-of-one was staying in a motel in Curitiba, in the Brazilian state of Parana, with a man she had met at a party.
The Mirror also heard from Dr Donald Grant, GP and Senior Clinical Advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, who advised: “Hot baths affect our bodies in various ways. Firstly, it raises our core temperature slightly, triggering sweating as the body aims to cool itself down. Heart rate can also increase, as blood vessels dilate and blood flow to the skin and muscles is increased, reducing muscle stiffness.
“Additionally, hot baths can promote relaxation by calming the nervous system and relaxing muscle fibres, relieving joint pressure and improving mobility. This is one of the biggest reasons that saunas are so popular, as heat can significantly boost recovery, making it a great choice for athletes.”
Dr Donald added: “But there are a few hidden dangers or things to be wary of when it comes to hot baths. One of the biggest factors to be mindful of is the temperature, as when baths get too hot, they can put unnecessary strain on the heart and nervous system, increasing the risk of nausea, fainting or in extreme cases, heart attacks.
“Also, I strongly advise against taking hot baths if you are pregnant, as the increased core temperature can heighten the risk of birth defects, especially throughout the first trimester. It’s also not the best idea to have a hot bath after or while drinking, as both alcohol and hot baths impair thermoregulation and lower blood pressure. This can increase dehydration and put even more strain on the heart.
“To be safe, always keep water temperature around 37-39 degrees Celsius. I also recommend hydrating before and after a hot bath and standing up slowly when getting out, to avoid sudden drops in blood pressure.”
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