Woman fatally electrocuted in bath while using charging phone
A mother of three died after being electrocuted while holding her charging phone in the bath.
Ann-Marie O’Gorman, from Shanliss Avenue, Santry, Co Dublin, was found unresponsive in her bathroom by her husband Joe in October last year.
The 47-year-old had suffered electrocution-type burns to her chest and left arm in what pathologist Heidi Okkers described as a ‘horrendous tragedy’.
She was pronounced dead later that day at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin Coroner’s Court heard.
Joe had left the family home with their youngest daughter Megan at 6.40pm and called his wife on his way back just before 8pm.
When he went up to the bathroom, he found Ann-Marie lying on her side unresponsive, with her phone and charging cable in the bath.
As he went to lift her out of the bath, Joe said he felt a small electric shock.
Consultant forensic engineer Paul Collins, who examined the scene, said the cable was just long enough to allow the phone to be held.
He said he believes the phone had fallen into the water and as Ann-Marie went to retrieve it, her finger came into contact with the handle of a shower attachment, which allowed the electricity to pass through her body, RTE reports.
Mr. Collins said: ‘Strange to say it, but if she had not taken her hand out of the bath, she would probably still be alive.’
He told the coroner’s court: ‘The only thing you hear about is how these phones are great in up to six feet of water.
‘It gives people the idea that you can have your phone near water.
‘There should be warnings that this is dangerous.
‘There’s nothing being done about this whatsoever by any provider to say this is a hazard you could die from.
‘That is all that people have to know.’
Joe thought at first that his wife had fallen asleep in the bath, but then immediately realized what had happened after seeing her phone in the bath.
Ann-Marie had suffered electrocution-type burns to her chest and left arm, and full-thickness burns to her right index finger and thumb.
Dr. Okkers attributed the cause of death to electrocution by a charging cable and phone while in a bath, adding that the mother did not drown as no water was found in her lungs.
Joe added that phone companies were promoting a ‘false illusion of safety’ by saying their equipment is waterproof.
He added, there is no warning on iPhones about the danger of them coming into contact with water while being charged.
Politics Editor
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