EXCLUSIVEHarrowing final moments of rock climber, 23, who died while trying Wim Hof method in family pool
When Emily Smith bought her son a guide to the Wim Hof Method last summer, he quickly became hooked.
When Emily Smith bought her son a guide to the Wim Hof Method last summer, he quickly became hooked.
She never imagined that just a few weeks later her only child Nova Xavier, 23, would be dead after reportedly trying out the books wellness theories.
Known as The Iceman, 65-year-old Hof has been met with widespread acclaim from health experts as well as celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow, Liam Hemsworth, Jack Dorsey and Oprah Winfrey.
His bestselling book, The Wim Hof Method: Activate Your Full Human Potential, is presented as a way to keep your body and mind in its optimal natural state through exposure to sub-zero temperatures and breathwork.
But Smith feels that for her son Nova, it was pretty much a guaranteed death sentence. His case is just one of at least 11 fatalities reportedly linked to the method, according to a Sunday Times investigation. A spokesperson for Wim Hof said the guide warns users not to hold their breath underwater for extended periods.
Speaking to DailyMail.com, licensed masseuse Smith, 51, bravely recalled her sons final moments at her mothers gated community pool in Kingwood, Houston, on July 17, 2023.
Avid sportsman Nova Xavier was 23 years old when he died in his family pool while practicing the Wim Hof method, according to his mother
Hofs Sunday Times bestseller is presented as a way to keep your body and mind in its optimal natural state through exposure to icy temperatures and underwater breathwork
Though she cannot bring herself to watch it, she also shared disturbing poolside footage of that fateful evening in the hopes of raising awareness about the risks attached to the technique.
It was a very hot July afternoon, Smith told DailyMail.com, speaking from the home where she has since moved in Salem, Oregon. I was the one that suggested that we go for a quick swim.
We got there and it was just normal. Everything was just fine, there was nothing extraordinary about any of it.
Nova suggested they both try Wim Hofs breathing and water submersion method, which involves hyperventilating before dipping below the surface and holding your breath, she claimed.
I was mimicking him. We did it about three times, coming up for air between each time, Smith said.
I did ask him at one point: "Is this safe?" and he said something to the effect of: "Of course its safe mom - its Wim Hof".
At this point, Smith said she decided to start swimming laps while Nova continued practicing the exercises.
Pictured: Nova, circled, in the pool, with his mother Emily swimming towards him on the right
Emily Smith (right) said Wim Hofs guide was pretty much a guaranteed death sentence for her 23-year-old son Nova Xavier (left). Smiths name has been changed at her request for anonymity
Nova was an avid rock climber, he only ate organic food. He only drank the best water. He bought a filtering machine that was a couple thousand dollars, his mother told DailyMail.com
Nova Xavier died at the age of 23 while practicing the Wim Hof underwater breath hold method in his family pool last summer, his mother says (Pictured: Nova with his aunt Ursula)
I stopped to say a prayer at the deep end of the pool while looking up at the sky. It was a beautiful, serene night, Smith recalled.
But the amount of time it took for me to say that prayer was when my son had passed out without my knowledge and sank to the bottom of the shallow end.
I looked back and I didnt see him. I thought to myself, "he cant possibly be holding his breath for that long".
This horrible feeling came over me. I swam as fast as I could and I saw the silhouette of him under the water.
With no-one else around and nightfall closing in, Smith had no choice but to haul her 6-foot-2-inch tall athlete son from the water by herself.
I took a deep breath of air and dove in. I grabbed him and dragged him to the end of the shallow end where there were some steps, she said.
It was extremely challenging. I scraped myself up pretty good.
I breathed air into his lungs and was telling myself, "hes going to be fine, hes going to be fine".
Then I just started screaming. I was like, "Nova, Nova, Nova!"
Wim Hofs spokesman Erik Hof defended the guide, saying it comes with clear warnings not to hold your breath underwater for extended periods
He told DailyMail.com that 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
A neighbor heard Smiths screams and came running to her aid with his young daughter in tow, as shown on the security footage.
They called 911 and paramedics eventually arrived to take over the CPR, while attempting to revive Nova with epinephrine - an adrenaline medication.
My son died quickly, Smith said. In fact, when I retrieved him from the water I think he was already dead. It took under two minutes.
I did not know that because of hyperventilating you can become hypoxic.
Its not a regular drowning. With a regular drowning you have more time, but with this your brain is in an (oxygen) deficit already.
Its quick and its silent and he just passed out without his knowledge. Its a pretty much guaranteed death sentence.
Smith said a coroner ruled Novas cause of death as drowning.
He was such a strong swimmer, thats the chiller, Smith told DailyMail.com.
Nova was an avid rock climber, he only ate organic food. He only drank the best water. He bought a filtering machine that was a couple thousand dollars.
My son was very health conscious. He did everything he could to improve his strength and stamina.
Smith said her kind and altruistic son Nova had gotten very into Wim Hof and watched all his YouTube videos in the months before he died.
At the time I thought, oh this is a good thing, it seems very healthy when you listen to what he has to say, she said.
But its super misleading and super dangerous, in my opinion.
Avid sportsman Nova Xavier was 23 years old when he died in his family pool while practicing the Wim Hof method, according to his mother
Wim Hofs spokesman Erik Hof defended the guide, saying it comes with clear warnings not to hold your breath underwater for extended periods.
He told DailyMail.com that 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.
We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident involving Nova Xavier, and our sympathies go to his family, Hof said.
Smith said she is considering launching legal action against Hof in the hopes of ensuring no-one else endures the pain she has gone through.
Under Texas law, I have until next July to launch a lawsuit, she told DailyMail.com.
But its so hard for me because I get sick a lot now, I have panic attacks, horrible nightmares. Im plagued with trauma. Im getting counselling and help.
I cant work. If I had more money or resources to mobilize myself to bring him to legal justice I would.
Coming up against the sharks, so to speak, it would destroy me. I know the Icemen have all the money and all the people.
In August 2022, 17-year-old Madelyn Metzger drowned in the family swimming pool in California trying, her father believes, to copy Hofs method
Another bereaved parent, Raphael Metzger, did launch legal action against Hof after his 17-year-old daughter Madelyn died practicing his technique in August 2022.
Madelyn drowned in just a few inches of water in their family swimming pool in Long Beach, California, and a coroner ruled her cause of death as drowning.
In his $67 million lawsuit, Metzger argued that Hof was negligent in promoting his technique and caused his daughters death by failing to sufficiently warn about the risk of drowning.
Hof was ultimately cleared of liability in the case, after a judge found that it could not be proven that Madelyn was doing Hofs exercises in the pool at the time and if that caused her to drown.
But her fathers lawyer said he planned to appeal the verdict, to prevent what he called a threat to public health.
Smiths name has been altered at her request in this story to protect her privacy.
Hof has also come under intense scrutiny after his former partner, Caroline Hak, accused him of abusing her during their decade-long relationship, which ended in 2011.
In an interview with a Dutch newspaper last week, she branded him a mean drunk and explosive character.
Most damaging were her claims that the wellness guru assaulted her while she was pregnant with their child and that, after they split, he was banned from seeing the boy because the Dutch Child Welfare Council found hed caused him psychological damage.
Hak, 65, also accused him of attacking her son from a previous marriage.
While Hof has admitted that this was not a healthy or happy period in his life, he denied her claims and categorically insisted he is not a violent man.
This is all very wrong, he told The Mail on Sunday this week in an exclusive interview alongside his four adult children from his first marriage, who are all standing by him.
Speaking via video call from Queensland, Australia, where he lives with his partner Erin, Hof added: Im like a rock on the seashore. I stay strong because Ive got my faith but this is too much.
I have a lot of mixed emotions about these false accusations. This is a character assassination.
