Amazon Sauna Lawsuit Claims Man Was Unable To Exit Infrared Cell, Suffered Third-Degree Burns

Lawsuit alleges a man lost consciousness after being trapped inside an Amazon-purchased portable sauna.

A Texas man’s product liability lawsuit claims he suffered severe burns after being trapped inside a portable infrared sauna that he purchased through Amazon.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by George Cal Dean in Texas District Court on March 26, naming as defendants Amazon.com Inc., Amazon.com Services Inc. and various unidentified companies involved in the design, manufacturing and distribution of the product. The case was later removed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas on April 29.

In the lawsuit, Dean claims a zipper failure left him unable to escape a Willowybe Portable Infrared Sauna purchased through Amazon. As a result, he lost consciousness and sustained extensive burns.

Infrared Sauna Risks

Portable infrared saunas use light panels to emit infrared radiation, warming the user’s body directly rather than heating the air around them. The devices are marketed as a way to ease muscle soreness, improve circulation and reduce pain through controlled heat exposure.

However, infrared sauna use can carry risks when sessions become too long, too intense or difficult to stop. Users may experience dehydration, overheating, dizziness, heat exhaustion or burns, with those dangers becoming more serious if someone is unable to exit the sauna because of an alleged manufacturing defect.

Those concerns have surfaced in other litigation as well. In a prior infrared sauna lawsuit, a Pennsylvania woman claimed she developed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after suffering severe burns to her lower abdomen while using a similar sauna pod device.

Sauna Burn Injury Allegations

According to the complaint, Dean purchased a portable sauna through Amazon’s online marketplace in October 2024. He claims he was using the device on May 26, 2025, for a routine 20-minute session when the zipper tab allegedly detached, making it nearly impossible to exit the enclosed “sauna cell.”

The lawsuit claims Dean became trapped inside, lost consciousness and was later found unresponsive by his wife, slumped against exposed heating plates after vomiting inside the unit.

Emergency responders transported him to the hospital, where he was treated for second- and third-degree burns to his shoulders, back and head. According to the filing, the burns covered approximately 21% of his body.

Although he was later released, the complaint indicates Dean continues to undergo ongoing wound care and follow-up treatment related to the injuries.

The lawsuit claims the sauna was defectively designed, citing an inadequate zipper system that failed to allow safe exit and a lack of proper guarding around internal heating elements.

Dean alleges safer alternative designs were available, including more reliable exit mechanisms and protective barriers to prevent direct contact with heating plates.

“The AMAZON DEFENDANTS knew or, in the exercise of reasonable care, should have known that consumer products sold through their marketplace—including products fulfilled through (Fulfilled by Amazon)—present a risk of serious injury if dangerous conditions are not reasonably monitored, investigated, warned against, or corrected.”

— George Cal Dean v. Amazon.com Inc. et al

In addition, the complaint contends the product was sold without adequate warnings or instructions about the risk of entrapment or burn injuries, leaving consumers unaware of the potential dangers.

Amazon Negligence Claims

Dean further alleges Amazon undertook responsibilities related to product safety, including monitoring complaints, enforcing marketplace rules and issuing warnings to consumers, but failed to act on known or knowable risks associated with the sauna.

The complaint points to a 2024 determination by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that Amazon may function as a distributor for certain products, which could impose obligations to address safety hazards and notify consumers.

Amazon has denied liability in its initial response, arguing it did not design, manufacture or sell the product, asserting that other parties or factors may be responsible for the alleged injuries.

The lawsuit raises allegations of negligent undertaking and negligence against Amazon, as well as strict product liability, design and marketing defects, against the unidentified defendants. It is seeking more than $1 million in damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, physical impairment and disfigurement.

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