Electrocuted by iPhone: Was a Chinese Stewardess' Death Caused By Her iPhone 5?
Are you carrying around a ticking time bomb? Well, probably not, but it is at least possible. Police are now conducting an investigation after a Chinese woman was found dead from what is believed to be an electrocution via her iPhone 5.
Ma Ailun, 23, who was a stewardess for China Southern Airline, was talking on her phone in her home Jul. 11 when she appears to have sustained a fatal electrocution. Ailun, who lived in Xinjiang, was set to be married before the tragic accident.
"We will fully investigate and cooperate with authorities in this matter," said Apple's Beijing-based spokeswoman Carolyn Wu, who went on to offer her condolences to the family of the victim.
It is believed that the main reason for Ailun's untimely death was the fact that she was talking on her phone while it was plugged in and charging. Most experts agree that cell phones on their own do not generate enough of a charge to severely electrocute a person using them.
"We have seen very few incidents related to shock or electrocution (involving cell phones)," said Scott Wolfson, communications director for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. "Most of our attention has been on overheating, smoke or fire."
Ailun's family has confirmed that her device was plugged in when the electrocution occurred. In public statements since her death last week, they have urged individuals not to use their phone while it is charging. Apparently, that risk does not apply just to cell phones either.
"There is a risk using an electrical device while its installed battery is being charged, be it a shaver or a phone," said Johnny Sin Kin-on, a professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Police have been working with Ailun's family and representatives for Apple to get to the bottom of the case. So far they have largely remained silent on the subject, but have indicated that it was clear that Ailun had sustained injuries consistent with an electrocution at the time of her death.
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