In a shocking revelation, Australian influencer Dominique Elissa shared a harrowing near-death experience involving an outdoor sauna that exploded while she was preparing for a wellness retreat. The incident, which she described in a TikTok video, took place at a remote property in northern New South Wales, where she was isolated with no neighbors in sight and no cell reception.
Elissa, 29, recounted the terrifying moment: “I’m about to put my swimmers on to go … and I hear ‘Boom.’ I look up. The entire sauna exploded.” She described the explosion as reaching heights of 10 to 15 meters, leaving her in a state of panic. “All the power went out, my phone was about to die, I had no reception, I am screaming, ‘Help, somebody help me.’ It was a horror movie.”
Fortunately, despite the lack of communication, Elissa managed to contact local authorities. “Thank God, I’m literally shaking, I can’t breathe,” she said, recalling how three fire trucks arrived to extinguish the flames that had engulfed the sauna. “The whole sauna burnt to the ground. It was the most horrific thing to experience because I was a few minutes from going into that sauna.”
The influencer, who is also a pilates instructor, bravely continued with the wellness workshop the following day, although she admitted to struggling with anxiety and shaking from the trauma. In her reflective video, she expressed gratitude for her survival: “I am so grateful to be alive, so grateful to be here. I’m definitely going to see a therapist … get some help, but my life lesson to you is that life is fragile; you have no idea what curveballs life is going to throw at you.”
Elissa’s story resonated with her followers, many of whom expressed sympathy and concern. With over 73,000 followers on TikTok and 284,000 on Instagram, her audience quickly flooded the comments with inquiries about the sauna brand, expressing hesitance about purchasing one after hearing her story. “Omg that’s so horrific! Are you able to please share the sauna brand if you know? I was wanting to purchase one for my home but this makes me so hesitant now wow,” one fan wrote.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of life and the importance of safety, especially when using home appliances. Elissa’s experience highlights the need for caution and awareness surrounding the use of outdoor saunas and similar equipment. While she has vowed to seek professional help to cope with the aftermath of her traumatic experience, her message of resilience and gratitude continues to inspire her fans.
As a public figure and wellness advocate, Dominique Elissa’s story not only sheds light on the dangers of seemingly benign home improvements but also encourages a dialogue about mental health and the importance of seeking help after traumatic events.