(COLORADO SPRINGS) — A lawsuit has been filed against 24 Hour Fitness by the family of a man who was killed in an explosion in a steam room at a south Colorado Springs 24 Hour Fitness in 2023.

The explosion happened on Jan. 13, 2023 at the 24 Hour Fitness on Southgate Boulevard in Stratton Meadows. The wrongful death lawsuit alleges that the gym knew a steamer spout was damaged and that the steam room was malfunctioning before David Diaz entered the room.

The lawsuit, filed by Diaz’s family, states that he entered the steam room around 3 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2023, and the malfunctioning spout caused a large amount of hot steam to explode all over the front of his body and in his airways.

Shortly after 5 p.m., the lawsuit states that Diaz came to an emergency room with multiple visible burns with blistering across and in his mouth, arms, chest, and abdomen. Diaz reportedly was diagnosed with serious injuries, including burns to 31% of his body, respiratory failure, multiple organ failure, and septic shock.

Diaz was hospitalized until Jan. 24, when he died. The El Paso County Coroner determined that he died as a result of complications due to scalding injuries.

The family’s lawsuit states that in the course of receiving medical treatment to try and save his life, Diaz incurred medical bills totaling almost $1 million. FOX21 News reached out to 24 Hour Fitness for comment and the company said it cannot comment on pending litigation.

Courtesy: FOX21 News photojournalist Sean Scott

A sign was posted on the door of the Southgate location on Jan. 13 stating that the gym would be closing on Feb. 28, 2025.