Inside Wim Hofs tragic family life: How eccentric iceman who rose to fame for his controversial cold water therapy lost his wife to suicide before being accused of abuse by ex-partner
Eccentric Iceman Wim Hof, famed for his death-defying cold-water therapy, lost his wife to suicide before later being accused of abuse by his estranged ex-partner.
Eccentric Iceman Wim Hof, famed for his death-defying cold-water therapy, lost his wife to suicide before later being accused of abuse by his estranged ex-partner.
Dutch daredevil Hof, 65, who famously climbed Mount Everest in just his shorts and sandals, has been accused of abuse by his former partner.
In an explosive interview, his ex branded him a mean drunk with an explosive character. Hof denies the allegations.
The claims are the latest twist in the life of the health guru - dubbed a real superhuman for his feats of freezing endurance - which saw his previous wife, Olaya tragically take her own life after leaping to her death from an eighth floor.
The mother-of-four. whose full name was Marivelle-Maria, had been with the Iceman for 15 years when she killed herself while staying with family in Spain in 1995.
Wim Hof, known as the Iceman for his superhuman feats of cold endurance has been accused of abuse by his ex partner. He denies the claim
The accusations are the latest twist in his controversial life, which saw his previous wife of 15 years, Olaya (pictured) taking her own life in 1995
Her death reportedly came after a lengthy battle with depression and schizophrenia, and left Hof alone to look after their four children, Enahm, Isa, Laura and Michael.
Opening up about the tragedy on Dragons Den star Steven Bartletts The Diary of a CEO podcast in June, Hof said he found out Olayas mental health was deteriorating too late and he had no means of control.
My wife took her own life and that led to depression, and I was not able to do anything, he said, adding she went into the shadows of her own mind.
The Dutchman claimed during the early days of their marriage she had suffered from what he thought was mild depression. By the time their four children had arrived, she had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Crushingly, Hof claimed that a month before his wife leapt to her death, she had told him she wanted to have a fifth child with him but that she needed to get better first.
I was not able to do anything, so it turned into a defeat, it turned into me being hopeless, it turned me into being depressed, but I had no time to be depressed, I had to take care of four children on my own, with almost no money, Hof said.
Hof met Olaya in 1982 when he was living a carefree, hippy-style life in a squat in Amsterdam.
Originally from Pamplona in Spain, she had just finished her studies and loved his bohemian kookiness; he thought she was the most amazing woman hed ever met.
Hofs exploits have led to him clinching 26 world records for cold endurance
Wim Hof teared up as he explained how cold-water therapy helped him grieve the death of his wife - amid claims he is promoting dangerous therapies
The Dutch motivational speaker and athlete, who is renowned for promoting cold water therapy, appeared on Dragons Den star Steven Bartlett s (pictured) The Diary of a CEO podcast in June
After getting married the pair had four children together before moving into an apartment, with Hof ditching his Bohemian lifestyle to take on a series of jobs - from tour guide to postman - to pay the bills.
Yet by the time their family was complete there were serious problems. What he thought were depressive tendencies in his wife were becoming something else.
He believes the stress on the body and hormonal balance that pregnancy exerts affected her mind.
He said he was the main carer for the four children long before Olaya died, saying she would go to stay with her parents in Spain for lengthy periods.
Having eventually received a diagnosis of schizophrenia, there were appointments with psychiatrists. Pills were administered but they only made things worse.
Previously speaking to the MailOnline Hof said: If Id known then what I know now, I could have done something. But I was powerless. I felt completely alone. We didnt know as much about mental illness then as we do now.
Olaya was staying with her parents in Spain on that fateful night in 1995 when she eventually took her own life, aged just 35, having kissed her children goodbye only moments before.
He was leading a tour party when he received a message to call his wifes family in Spain urgently. She had leapt to her death at 2am.
Hof later said the grief he felt after the death of his wife was an inexplicable burden and traumatised himself and his four children.
To cope with her loss, Hof turned to cold water therapy to feel alive again.
He developed a new breathing technique to control the bone-chilling temperatures which he said also helped him control his anxiety and grief.
The health guru became a star through the Wim Hof method, famous for its use of breathing exercises and cold showers.
The short, sharp, rapid breathing technique was famously shared with celebrities when Hof fronted the BBC reality show Freeze the Fear with Holly Willoughby and comedian Lee Mack.
In the show, the BBC reality show Freeze the Fear with Holly Willoughby and comedian Lee Mack.
He taught celebrities - including Alfie Boe, Chelcee Grimes, Owain Wyn Evans, Dianne Buswell, Tamzin Outhwaite, Patrice Evra, Gabby Logan, and Professor Green - how to control their bodies and mental health with sub-zero ice challenges.
In 2022 he fronted the BBC reality show Freeze the Fear with Holly Willoughby and comedian Lee Mack
He taught celebrities how to control their bodies and mental health with sub-zero ice challenges. Pictured is a poncho-wearing Hof watching Alfie Boe taking the plunge
Since learning the technique Hof has racked up 26 world records for feats of death-defying cold endurance, leading to him being dubbed a real superhuman.
While in 2007 aged almost 50, he climbed from Everests base camp to almost 22,000ft in just his shorts.
But now the daredevil Dutchman faces accusations of abuse by his former partner.
In a bombshell interview, Hofs ex Caroline branded the 65-year-old a mean drunk with an explosive character.
She claimed the ice-loving TV star had abused her around 13 years ago, the Volkskrant newspaper reported.
Hof, who is nicknamed the The Iceman went on to discuss how he used ice water therapy and breathing to control grief and anxiety
Caroline and her family have reportedly not seen Hof for 11 years, with the former couples son Noah, 21, not in contact with his father.
The Volkskrant reported: For them the name Wim Hof is synonymous with years of aggression, physical violence, humiliation, manipulation.
They know the Iceman, as Hof calls himself, as a mean drunk with an explosive character and delusions of grandeur.
Mr Hof told the newspaper: It is obvious that shes on the warpath and now wants to make everything look different from how it was.
Caroline always knew how to quickly get under my skin, he said while answering questions from the newspaper.
He said he has never been violent.
The allegations are the latest to blight the stars career, with his controversial cold-water therapy having previously been branded reckless.
The health guru was recently slammed and accused of promoting dangerous therapies after a string of families claimed their loved ones died after performing the breathing method.
The Sunday Times reports the unusual method is alleged to have led to people dying - accusing Wim of acting recklessly by failing to warn of the risks.
The newspaper reported that Kellie Poole, a mother-of-three, collapsed and died in a river in Derbyshire after embracing the trend.
Hof claims his cold-water therapy can help improve health and mental well-being. But his controversial method has previously been dubbed dangerous following a series of tragic deaths linked to the trend
In April 2022 the 39-year-old joined her friend Victoria Fielding at the River Goyt in the Peak District for a two-hour class on the method.
Soon after entering the cold water she began complaining of a headache before collapsing.
She was pulled from the water and another member of the class desperately tried to resuscitate her, but she tragically died at the scene.
Her inquest heard that she had an undiagnosed heart condition and the cold water might have had an effect on cardiac function and might link to sudden death.
A prevention of future deaths report was issued to warn that some people may experience an adverse physiological reaction to cold water immersion which could potentially threaten their life.
The Sunday Times used coroners reports and interviews as well as public statements from families, to identify 11 deaths in which the victim is believed to have tried cold-water techniques.
In August 2022, 17-year-old Madelyn Metzger drowned in the family swimming pool in California.
Raphael found his daughter face down in the water and he dragged her out, tried to perform CPR and called paramedics but she sadly passed away.
He later discovered Maddie had been researching the method since 2020 and had downloaded his app the month before the incident occurred.
Her father has filed a £67 million lawsuit and is seeking an injunction that would ban Hof and his businesses from promoting his breathing method in California.
Mr Metzger argues Wim is negligent in promoting his technique and caused death by failing to properly warn people of the risk of drowning.
Hof and his business deny the allegations, arguing they had no duty of care over Maddie.
The Dutch motivational speaker is noted for his ability to withstand low temperatures and is determined to teach as many as possible about cold therapy
The 65-year-old revealed how he first embraced the unusual method in a bid to conquer his grief following his wifes death in 1995
They said: We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and extend our sympathies to all who have lost loved ones. The safety and wellbeing of everyone practising the Wim Hof Method is of utmost importance to us.
That is why we consistently emphasise safety across all our platforms, products and in every aspect of our training, the Times reported.
They said warnings and disclaimers are used anywhere the Wim Hof Method is advertised.
But a spokesperson added: Its important to note, however, that we advise against practising the Wim Hof Method for those with certain health conditions and always recommend consulting a doctor if youre unsure.
Hofs daughter Laura - whose mother died when she was eight - previously spoke out and championed his cold-water therapy.
Describing how her father raised her and her siblings after her mothers suicide, she told RTE: I was raised by a very special man, which I only understood later.
We always used to play outside – if it was cold, it didnt really matter. The weatherman never dictated what we needed to wear.
We were very free – I dont think there were any rules, she remembers. Sometimes you would think, OK, kids need some rules, but it was also the best time of my life. My father used to play more than we did. So, he always wanted to go outside with us, and that was great.
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