Thomas was undergoing oxygen therapy when the chamber suddenly ignited, trapping him inside. His mother, Annie Cooper of Royal Oak, made a desperate attempt to rescue him but was unable to do so. She sustained significant burns on her arm while trying to free her son, but the emotional trauma is expected to be even more devastating, according to the family’s attorney, James Harrington of Feiger Law.

A GoFundMe page was initially set up to support the family but has since been suspended. The description of the fundraiser shared heartfelt details about Thomas, recalling his love for singing about his mother, his fascination with learning how things work, and his passion for playing Minecraft and dressing up as Mario alongside his little brother, who was his best friend.

The Oxford Center, which provides hyperbaric oxygen therapy along with other treatments, has temporarily closed. In a statement, the facility expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, emphasizing that safety has always been their priority and that nothing like this had ever happened in their 15 years of operation. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and investigations are ongoing.