A health guru known as “the Iceman” has been acquitted of causing the death of a 17-year-old girl in Los Angeles by a court in California for lack of proof.

Madelyn Metzger was found lifeless at the bottom of a pool in August 2022 by her father, who claimed she had been practising breathing exercises promoted by Wim Hof, Dutch media reported.

Hof is an advocate of ice-cold baths, which he claims strengthen the immune system, and sells therapies through Dutch company Innerfire, owned by Hof and his son.

The case is one of a dozen drownings that have been linked to Hof’s breathing exercises but it was the first time a case had been brought to court.

The breathing exercises can lead to fainting and, according to warnings included in the course, should not be carried out near water. But critics have said that  numerous pictures of a submerged Wim Hof suggest otherwise and can cause confusion.

Madelyn’s father, Raphael Metzger, had demanded over €62 million in damages from Hof’s company. He also holds his ex-wife legally responsible for the death of their daughter after she introducing her to the method.

The verdict in the case, which was expected at the end of the month, was brought forward at the request of Hof’s lawyers.

They argued that the question is not whether or not Hof’s breathing exercises can lead to drowning, but whether or not it could be proven that the girl was doing the exercises in the pool at the time and if that caused her to drown.

The judge agreed no such proof had been submitted and acquitted Hof. Metzger’s lawyer said he would appeal over the timing of the sentence to stop the spread of a “threat to public health”.