Angel Valley Resort and Sweat Lodge: Scene of Two Deaths, 19 Sick

The Angel Valley Resort or Angel Valley Sweatbox, a spiritual retreat in Arizona is the scene of two deaths today and 19 people have been taken sick. Sixty-four people in total were inside a sweatbox or a sauna-like room for about two hours before they became ill.

The two deaths were a middle-aged man and woman, and police are now investigating what may have caused their deaths and carrying out toxicity tests.

Some of the people had paid about $9,000 to stay at the resort that offers treatments like massage, colon cleansing, and something called 'healing carried out by harnessing the consciousness of a dolphin'.

A sweatbox experience is when a kind of tent is gradually filled up with steam by pouring water on hot rocks. It can be dangerous to people with pre-existing conditions or if the amount of steam is badly managed.

It is not known if the two that died had any pre-existing medical conditions.
Two of the people taken sick are listed as being in critical condition today; many others have been discharged.