Taking a long, hot bath is often seen as the perfect way to relax after a stressful day — but many people don’t realize that this soothing habit can, in rare cases, turn dangerous.
This week, reports surfaced that a mother and father were found dead in an overheated motel bathtub following a night spent celebrating their daughter’s birthday. The shocking story immediately raised questions — how could something as harmless as a bath become fatal, and who faces the greatest danger?
Jeferson Luiz Sagaz, a 37-year-old military police officer, and his partner, 41-year-old nail salon owner Ana Carolina Silva, died inside a motel suite in Brazil after spending the evening out celebrating their four-year-old daughter’s birthday.
After enjoying drinks at a food park, the couple later went to a nightclub and checked into the Dallas Motel in São José.
The next morning, they never arrived to pick up their daughter, who was staying with Jeferson’s sister. The pair were later discovered lifeless in the motel bathtub, where investigators found the water temperature had reached 50°C.
A space heater in the room had also been left on full power.
Toxicology reports indicated very high alcohol levels and traces of cocaine in their bodies.
The official cause of death was listed as exogenous poisoning — meaning harmful substances entered the body from external sources — along with heatstroke, which led to severe dehydration, collapse, and eventual organ failure.
Earlier this year, a 24-year-old mother also lost her life after she passed out in a motel hot tub.
Gabriele Cristine Barreto de Freitas awoke screaming from excruciating burns that covered her body. She later died of cardiac arrest brought on by third-degree burns.
She had been in a motel in Curitiba, located in Brazil’s Paraná state, with a man she met at a party.
Hidden Warning Signs of Heart Problems
While bathing is usually safe and promotes both cleanliness and relaxation, Sun Health outlines how excessively hot water can create serious health dangers.
HEART IMPLICATIONS
Understanding what happens inside the body when you step into hot water is key to recognizing potential risks.
Ruth Goss, a senior cardiac nurse with the British Heart Foundation, explains: “A hot bath causes your blood vessels to widen, which may temporarily lower your blood pressure.
“For most individuals, that’s a normal body reaction and often feels soothing.
“However, those with heart disease or people taking medication for high or low blood pressure should be cautious.
“Sudden temperature shifts can place extra strain on the heart and may result in dizziness or fainting.
“We always tell patients with cardiovascular problems to consult their GP or cardiac nurse before using very hot baths or hot tubs — particularly if they’ve had angina, irregular heart rhythms, or unstable blood pressure.”
Dr. Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy adds that this stress on the heart, especially in those with narrowed arteries or pre-existing heart issues, can heighten the risk of a heart attack, which could be fatal without immediate medical care.
She notes that babies, toddlers, and the elderly are even more vulnerable to the dangers of extreme heat in baths.
Dr. Lee warns: “People with heart conditions should never enter very hot water. They should stay hydrated and avoid remaining in a hot bath for too long.”
DEADLY HEAT
Another risk linked to hot baths is heatstroke, which happens when body temperature rises above 40°C.
Dr. Lee emphasizes: “Heatstroke is a serious medical emergency. It can permanently damage vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys, and can be fatal without fast treatment.
“Be alert for symptoms like dizziness, confusion, headache, thirst, sweating, and nausea.”
If any of these signs appear while bathing, she advises getting out immediately and cooling the water with cold taps.
She continues: “If you feel faint, sit down — maybe on the toilet — and lower your head between your knees. Open a window to let cooler air circulate.”
UNDER THE INFLUENCE
Experts warn that mixing alcohol or drugs with hot baths greatly increases the danger.
Alcohol affects balance, coordination, and judgment, making accidents more likely.
Taking a bath while intoxicated could mean stepping into water that’s dangerously hot — and being too impaired to get out.
Dr. Lee explains: “Cocaine not only affects mental clarity but also raises body temperature and interferes with the body’s ability to cool down, so the person may not realize how overheated they are.
“Cocaine on its own can cause hyperthermia.
“Combining alcohol and cocaine before getting into a hot bath is extremely dangerous.”
ASSESSING THE TRUE RISK
Although there are no clear statistics on deaths linked specifically to heatstroke or heart problems in baths, around 20 people die each year in the UK from scalding caused by hot water.
Dr. Lee says: “Most serious scald injuries occur in children under five, but older adults are also high-risk.
“Among those who die from these injuries, roughly three-quarters are aged 65 or above.
“Skin contact with water at 54-55°C for just 30 seconds can cause third-degree burns.
“As temperature increases, the time to cause burns drops sharply — at 60°C it takes five seconds, and at 70°C less than one second.
“Infants, children, and the elderly have thinner, more sensitive skin that burns even faster.”
HOW TO BATHE SAFELY
The NHS advises never leaving a child alone in the bath, even briefly, and recommends installing a thermostatic mixing valve on taps to keep the temperature under control.
Always run cold water first, then add hot water. Use your elbow — not your hand — to test the temperature.
Dr. Lee suggests using a bath thermometer and ensuring the temperature does not exceed 38°C (or 37.5°C for infants).
She also recommends filling the tub only two-thirds full, as the water level rises when you get in.
Additional safety tips include:
- Place a non-slip mat inside and beside the bath to prevent falls.
- Be careful with oily bath products, as they make the surface slippery.
- Limit bath time to 15–30 minutes maximum.
- For seniors, install grab rails near the tub.
- Don’t lock the bathroom door — in case someone needs to assist.
- Older adults should learn to roll to one side before getting out to avoid getting stuck.
SIGNS OF HEATSTROKE — AND WHAT TO DO
Call 999 immediately if you or someone else shows symptoms of heatstroke such as:
- Still feeling unwell after 30 minutes of resting in a cool area and drinking fluids
- Very high body temperature
- Hot, dry skin that may appear red (this may be harder to spot on darker skin tones)
- Rapid heartbeat or breathing
- Confusion or poor coordination
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
If the person passes out while waiting for help, place them in the recovery position.
Source: The Sun News, UK on 8 October 2025
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