Husband and spouse die in horror Sauna fireplace after changing into trapped inside
A couple were found unconscious in a sauna after apparently becoming trapped during a fire, with police investigating after employees said the emergency alarm had been turned off for two years
A married couple died after being discovered unconscious in a sauna, having become trapped during a devastating blaze. Police have launched an investigation after it was revealed the pair were unable to summon assistance whilst confined within the sauna.
Staff at SaunaTiger in Tokyo informed detectives that the emergency alarm system had been switched off “for about two years” before the tragedy on Monday.
Emergency responders arriving at the location discovered the sauna room’s door handle on the ground, with the couple found collapsed one on top of the other. Their heads were positioned close to the door, which they had been unable to open, according to local reports.
Masaya Matsuda, a 36-year-old beauty salon owner, and wife Yoko, 37, a nail technician, were rushed to hospital but were pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
A preliminary examination revealed the sauna room’s walls were blackened, with a charred towel indicating the blaze may have started when the towel made contact with the heated sauna stones. It is believed the towel ignited initially, before the flames spread to a wooden bench and wall, reports the Mirror.
The husband was discovered with burns on both shoulders and across his torso, whilst his wife sustained burns to her right shoulder. A post-mortem examination on Thursday remained inconclusive regarding the cause of death, although it is thought Masaya and Yoko may have died from burns or hyperthermia.
Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sealed off the vicinity surrounding the sauna whilst conducting investigations into the establishment over potential charges of professional negligence resulting in death. After Sauna Tiger’s latest inspection in 2023, a report noted “no major deficiencies found in the equipment”.
The venue markets itself as an “adult hideaway” and “completely private individual sauna”, providing two single-person chambers and three four-person facilities.
A statement published on Sauna Tiger’s website following the tragedy said: “We offer our deepest condolences… and our heartfelt sympathies for the deep grief and pain that cannot be expressed in words.”
The establishment confirmed it had “closed for the time being” and assured customers with existing reservations would receive full refunds.
Similar to many countries, Japan has experienced a surge in sauna popularity since the Covid pandemic – although a string of severe incidents has raised concerns amongst politicians that the industry requires proper regulation.
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