SAN JOSE – Tony Robbins, well-known self-help Guru and motivational speaker , really heated things up during a motivational seminar in San Jose leaving many attending the event severely burned.
The New York Daily News reports Robbins was hosting a four-day event entitled “Unleash the Power Within” at the San Jose Convention Center which incorporated what Robbins’ websites promote as “The Firewalk Experience,” where attendees walk over beds of hot coals while barefoot in order to promote self-confidence.
Attendees lined up along Park Avenue, according to CBS News , where 12 ten-foot-long strips of hot coals were laid across the grass at the end of the first day of the 4 day event…..and proceeded to walk across them. It took an hour and a half to finish “The Firewalk Experience” portion of the event, leaving many in need of treatment for burns according San Jose Fire Capt. Reggie Williams:
“When it was all said and done, we treated approximately 21 people at the scene for burns and we transported three. The burns, from what I understand, were second and third degree burns.”
Williams also made note that more of the firewalkers ended up going back to their hotels and called 911 for treatment for burns.
Jonathan Correll was in the area, according to the Daily Mail , during the firewalk and states he heard “wails of pain and screams of agony… people seriously hurting, like they were being tortured.”
“First one person, then a couple of minutes later another one, and there was just a line of people walking on that fire. It was just bizarre, man.”
Those who attended Robbins’ Firewalking event reported suffering from blistered feet and had to soak their feet in a nearby fountain.
On Friday, Robbins Research International issued a statement saying:
“We have been safely providing this experience for more than three decades, and always under the supervision of medical personnel. We continue to work with local fire and emergency personnel to ensure this event is always done in the safest way possible.”
Moral of the story, readers, is don’t walk over hot coals, they’re HOT and may burn.