5 Hospitalized After Tony Robbins Urges Them to Walk Over Hot Coals

Five people were hospitalized Thursday and dozens more were treated for minor burns after motivational speaker Tony Robbins urged them to walk over hot coals at a Dallas event.

The burns occurred during a coal-walking exercise during a Tony Robbins motivational event. Dallas fire rescuers found dozens of people with burns on their feet and lower legs when they responded to the incident Thursday evening. About 30-40 people received on-site burn treatment, while only five elected to go to the hospital, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Tony Robbins’s organization Robbins Research International played down the incident. “In Dallas tonight, someone not familiar with the fire walk observed the event and called 911 erroneously reporting hundreds of people requiring medical attention for severe burns,” the organization said in a statement. “While we are grateful to the quick and robust response from Dallas emergency services, only 5 of 7,000 participants requested any examination beyond what was readily available on site.”

The firewalk was the last event of the first day of a three-day series called Unleash the Power Within. Thursday’s program was called “Turn Fear Into Power,” and the description promised to help attendees “imagine that fear was no longer a factor in your life.”

“Overcome the unconscious fears that are holding you back,” the description says. “Storm across a bed of hot coals. Once you start doing what you thought was impossible, you’ll conquer the other fires of your life with ease.”

No cancellation of the subsequent days has been posted on the website. Usher, Hugh Jackman, and Melissa Etheridge are among the celebrities who provide testimonials about Robbins’ program.