Wim Hof's former partner accuses him of abuse: 'The Iceman's' ex claims he was a 'mean drunk and explosive character' in bombshell interview

By: dailymail Posted On: October 01, 2024 View: 133

Published: 20:44 EDT, 30 September 2024 | Updated: 03:46 EDT, 1 October 2024

Wim Hof's former partner has accused him of abuse, branding him a 'mean drunk' and an 'explosive character' in a bombshell new interview.

The production about Hof's life as 'Iceman' has been temporarily paused following the accusations.

Caroline contacted the Volkskrant newspaper and claimed she and her family were forced to suffer his abuse as he rose to fame. Hof denies the allegations against him.

The health guru became a star through the 'Wim Hof method', famous for its use of breathing exercises and cold showers.

Hof's cold exposure training of a group of celebrities in 2022 was a primary part of the BBC show Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof, hosted by Lee Mack and This Morning's Holly Willoughby.

Hof also explained how to deal with stress, which he did through ice baths after the death of his wife to 'get emotional agony out of the way'

The Dutch motivational speaker is noted for his ability to withstand low temperatures and is determined to teach as many as possible about cold therapy

Caroline and her family have reportedly not seen Hof for 11 years, with the former couple's son Noah, 21, not in contact with his father.

The Volkskrant reported: 'For them the name Wim Hof is synonymous with years of aggression, physical violence, humiliation, manipulation.

'They know the Iceman, as Hof calls himself, as a mean drunk with an explosive character and delusions of grandeur.'

Mr Hof told the newspaper: 'It is obvious that she's on the warpath and now wants to make everything look different from how it was.

'Caroline always knew how to quickly get under my skin,' he said while answering questions from the newspaper.

He said he has never been violent.

Hof, who is nicknamed the 'The Iceman' went on to discuss how he used ice water therapy and breathing to control grief and anxiety

Hof this year teared up as he explained how cold water therapy helped him cope with the death of his wife Olaya.

The health guru repeated his claims that breathing, meditation and cold water can fix trauma and boost your health while recalling the tragic loss of Olaya in 1995.

The mother-of-four Olaya took her own life by leaping from the eighth floor of a building.

For help, call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org

What is the the Wim Hof Method?

The Wim Hof Method claims to be a form of meditative therapy and a practical way to become healthier, happier and stronger.

It consists of three components - deep breathing, exposure to cold water, and a focused mindset.

He previously sat down with Femail to chat about the 'tremendous benefits' from the method that starts with a reconnect with nature.

'We're always in this state of weakening warmth, covered up in layers of clothing, and never exercising the cardiovascular system. So a cold shower a day keeps the doctor away,' Wim said.

Wim claims you can even treat depression with cold therapy, with complete submersion leading to a 540 per cent increase in adrenaline and a 250 per cent in dopamine - both of which are known to help moderate symptoms.

'What you will see is that your heart rate goes down during the day, reducing your stress levels. You feel more energised. The improved blood flow delivers better nutrition to your cells. You find you don't get sick anymore,' Wim said.

The breathing 'activates the adrenal access to the brain, reduces inflammation, alkalises the blood, and regulates the body'.

Then, the cold 'makes you strong from the inside out' because millions of tiny muscles, veins and capillaries become stronger.

'The muscles contract which allows for better blood flow, a slower heart rate and more energy,' Wim said.

Mindset and focus is also a significant component that contributes to unlocking the health benefits by letting go of personal ego and send attention to your body instead.

'We all have this power. When you go into the cold, you're not thinking anymore, you're just doing,' Wim said.