A five-year-old boy was “incinerated” when a pressurised oxygen chamber exploded at a medical facility in the US state of Michigan.

Four people have been charged over the child’s death at the Oxford Centre in Detroit, Michigan’s attorney general has said.

Thomas Cooper, from Michigan, was pronounced dead at the scene, while his mother, who was standing next to the chamber, suffered injuries to her arms when it exploded on 31 January.

“A single spark it appears ignited into a fully involved fire that claimed Thomas’s life within seconds,” attorney general Dana Nessel said at a news conference on Tuesday.

“Fires inside a hyperbaric chamber are considered a terminal event. Every such fire is almost certainly fatal and this is why many procedures and essential safety practices have been developed to keep a fire from ever occurring.”

The centre’s founder and chief executive, Tamela Peterson, has been charged with second-degree murder, according to online court records.

Facility manager Gary Marken, 65, safety manager Gary Mosteller, 64, and the hyperbaric chamber’s operator that day, Aleta Moffitt, 60, have also been charged.

Marken and Mosteller are charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.

Moffitt is charged with involuntary manslaughter and intentionally placing false medical information on a medical records chart.

Raymond Cassar, Marken’s attorney, said the second-degree murder charge comes as “a total shock” to him and his client.

“For fairness, he is presumed innocent,” Mr Cassar said.

“This was a tragic accident and our thoughts and our prayers go out to the family of this little boy.

“I want to remind everyone that this was an accident, not an intentional act. We’re going to have to leave this up to the experts to find out what was the cause of this.”

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Sky News’ US partner network NBC News reported that according to the family’s lawyer, the boy had received multiple sessions of hyperbaric therapy for sleep apnea and ADHD.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared hyperbaric chambers to be marketed as safe and effective for a list of 13 disorders, including severe burns, decompression sickness and non-healing wounds.

But the list does not include many of the other disorders advertised by the Oxford Centre – including sleep apnea and ADHD.

The FDA also recommends that consumers only use hyperbaric centres that are inspected and accredited by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society.

The Oxford Centre does not appear on the society’s February 2025 list of accredited facilities.

The father of a British tourist being held in the US has told Sky News “what was meant to be a life-changing trip has turned into a nightmare”.

Rebecca Burke, 28, from Monmouthshire, was attempting to cross into Canada from the US when she ended up being handcuffed and taken to a detention facility due to an issue with her visa.

Ms Burke, who has been travelling since January, had a tourist visa for her backpacking trip around North America, but her entry into Canada – where she was planning to stay with a host family in exchange for food and accommodation – was rejected.

Canadian officials said she needed a working visa and sent Ms Burke back to the US – where she was then “taken by homeland security in handcuffs to a large detention centre”, her father Paul Burke said.

She has now been held in the Tacoma Northwest facility in Washington state for 14 days.

“We thought of all the countries in the world, two of the safest for a British tourist to go to would be the USA and Canada,” Mr Burke said during an interview on Sky News Breakfast. “What was meant to be life changing for her has turned into a nightmare.”

Mr Burke and his wife have been able to speak to their daughter daily, as she can make phone calls from a shared iPad.

They have become worried about Ms Burke’s health, as her vegan meals consist solely of cold rice and potatoes.

“We spoke to her last night and she said she had to go and see the medic because she’s got digestive problems,” Ms Burke said.

“We’ve got very kind people [in Washington] who have offered to visit her. They’ve said when they visit, she’s behind a glass screen and they have to talk to her on a telephone.

“I can’t believe a British tourist is being kept in these conditions.”

Ms Burke – a graphic artist – has been able to trade with other women in the centre to secure fresh fruit, her dad said.

“She’s trading portraits of the other women and the other women’s kids, in return for an orange or some other food,” he said. “In terms of how the other women are treating her, it really is a band of sisters working together. They’re taking care of each other.

“They’re all trying to help each other and support each other, which is one good thing.”

It is unclear when Ms Burke’s case will be dealt with by US immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, who are “overloaded with cases” due to the US government’s blitz on immigration, her father said.

“The detention centres are being filled because of the crackdown,” Mr Burke continued. “Becky told us that her detention centre will be at capacity next week.”

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“She was told by the ICE officer, it could still be another 10 days [until her case is dealt with],” he continued. “Why can’t it be tomorrow? We just want her home.”

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting a British national detained in the USA and are in contact with the local authorities.”

A spokesperson for ICE said: “Rebecca Burke, 28, a citizen of the United Kingdom is detained by ICE at the Northwest ICE Processing Center related to the violation of the terms and conditions of her admission.

“All aliens in violation of U.S. immigration law may be subject to arrest, detention and if found removable by final order, removal from the United States regardless of nationality.”

A man has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the ship collision in the North Sea.

Humberside Police said the 59-year-old is in custody to allow enquiries to take place, and officers are talking to those involved to find out what happened.

The force added investigators have started a criminal probe into the cause of the collision between the Stena Immaculate and Solong off the coast of East Yorkshire on Monday, and are working with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Ernst Russ, the owner of Solong, later confirmed the man detained was the ship’s captain. The shipping firm called him “the master of the ship” – which is understood to be the same as a captain.

One person remains missing and is presumed dead after emergency services stopped their search on Monday evening.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is also involved in early work to determine what caused the two vessels to collide.

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Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson, said: “Humberside Police have taken primacy for the investigation of any potential criminal offences which arise from the collision between the two vessels.

“Extensive work has already been carried out, and we are working closely with our partners to understand what happened, and to provide support to all of those affected.

“Following enquiries undertaken by my team, we have arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision, this follows the conclusion of search operations by HM Coastguard for the missing crew member of the SOLONG.”

He added: “Our thoughts are with the family of the missing crew member, and I have appointed family liaison officers to make contact and provide support to the family.

“The man arrested remains in custody at this time whilst enquiries are under way, and we continue speaking with all those involved to establish the full circumstances of the incident.”

Ernst Russ added in a later statement that it could confirm the master of the Solong “has been detained by Humberside Police in the UK”.

“The master and our entire team are actively assisting with the investigations,” the shipping firm said.

“Out of respect for the investigation and all involved we will not comment further at this time.”

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US tanker Stena Immaculate was anchored off the coast of East Yorkshire when the Solong crashed into it at around 9.45am on Monday.

Some 36 people were brought safely to the shore, but one person was reported missing from the cargo ship.

At around 11.20pm, the Solong started to drift southwards away from the crash site. HM Coastguard said in an update earlier on Tuesday that the ship is still alight.

Tugboats are in the vicinity to ensure it remains away from the coast

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the container ship is expected to stay afloat, after a minister told parliament that it could sink earlier in the day.

She said she met with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s chief executive Virginia McVea, and was “pleased to have been informed that early indications suggest that both vessels are now expected to stay afloat”.

Ernst Russ also denied reports the vessel was carrying sodium cyanide and said: “There are four empty containers that have previously contained the hazardous chemical.

“These containers will continue to be monitored.”

Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of Jet-A1 fuel in 16 tanks, at least one of which was ruptured, its operator also said.