Woman injured after fainting in hot shower while sick with flu
Wednesday 16 September 2026 · 2 outlets · 2 reports · updated In this story NZME
Kat Murray suffered deep cuts to her back after fainting through a glass shower door while suffering from Influenza A. A doctor has warned that hot showers can trigger fainting episodes. Murray is now urging people to take the flu seriously following the incident.
Key facts
4 facts
- Kat Murray suffered deep cuts to her back after fainting in a shower
- The cause of the fainting was Influenza A
- Hot showers can trigger fainting by causing blood vessels to relax
- Hospitalisations for flu-like illnesses have reached 10-year highs in Auckland
The full story
1 min read · 2 outlets
Kat Murray is encouraging people to take the flu seriously after she fainted through a glass shower door while suffering from Influenza A. The incident, which occurred two years ago when Murray was 26, resulted in multiple deep cuts to her back.
Murray reported that she took a hot shower to warm up after feeling cold, but was hit by overwhelming nausea. She attempted to move towards a window before passing out and falling backwards into the glass.
The injury included a large gash from her shoulder blade to her neck and down her back, requiring eight stitches in one wound. Murray stated, "We treat the flu like a minor inconvenience rather than the aggressive systematic threat it is".
Dr Louise Poynton, medical director at Tū Ora Compass Health, warned that hot water can cause blood vessels to relax, potentially leading to a drop in blood pressure. This drop in blood pressure, combined with fever or dehydration, increases the risk of fainting.
Compiled from reports by Otago Daily Times and NZ Herald.