nux4lyfe Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 A 23-year-old Chinese woman has allegedly died from an electric shock when using Apple’s iPhone 5 while it was being charged, her family members claim, according to media reports. The older sister of alleged victim Ma Ailun took to Sina Weibo, China’s popular Twitter-like social network, over the weekend to demand an explanation from Apple and urged people not to use their phones while charging them. A Sina Tech report said that Apple has issued a statement expressing condolences to Ma’s family over the unfortunate incident, and vowed to investigate the incident thoroughly. The company also said it would cooperate with authorities over the matter. Another report, this time from China Daily, said that local police confirmed Ma had died of electrocution, but have not concluded whether her phone played a part in causing the incident. Experts have noted that there is a risk in using any electrical device while it is being charged, according to a South China Morning Post report — be it a shaver or a phone. An expert in the report also cautioned that the exact circumstances of the incident are not clear, and it would not be suitable to jump to any conclusions at this stage. China is known for selling Apple products on the grey market, with the iPhone 5 landing in the country less than a week after Apple began selling it last year, and counterfeit iPhone 5 models had arrived by then too. Ma’s sister mentioned on Weibo that the phone was bought last December and still under warranty, and the family has handed the phone over to authorities for investigation. Reports have said that Ma, a resident in the northwestern Chinese province of Xinjiang, had been a flight attendant at China Southern Airlines, though she recently quit her job. Ma’s sister on Weibo mentioned that she had been due to get married on August 18. We have reached out to Apple for comment and will update with any further details provided. Image Credit: Jean-Sebastien Evrard via AFP/Getty Images Discover and promote exclusive online offers NEW by TNW Market Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rypien37 Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 Man. that sucks, God rest her soul.... http://thenextweb.co...sm=tnw.to_g0gUE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nux4lyfe Posted July 15, 2013 Author Share Posted July 15, 2013 RIP. Side note....J Dilla died in 2006 not in 1996.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blame Obama Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 that is why there is no need to upgrade to 5 6 7 8 9 when 4 works just fine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trek Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 I wonder if she was using an aftermarket charger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 I wonder if she was using an aftermarket charger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nucklehead Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 You shouldn't die from a household current though. I don't live in China so...non issue here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 You shouldn't die from a household current though. I don't live in China so...non issue here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starmie Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 third party charging adapter probably Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thad Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 My phone is plugged in as I type this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SynysterGates Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 You shouldn't die from a household current though. I don't live in China so...non issue here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SynysterGates Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 Well, the common voltage in China is 220V compared to 120V here, so that can factor in. 120V will give you quite a jolt but 240V (also available here for larger appliances) will do some damage. 220V in China should be similar and it'd depend on if the circuit was broken or if she stayed in contact with the electricity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 It isn't the voltage that kills though, it is the current. Although 347V (most commercial lighting) will cause your muscles to seize, making it impossible for you to let go of the wire/device that you are being shocked by. This allows the current the time to cause serious damage. I am an electrician and have been shocked by 120V quite a number of times, but with extremely limited current. And I have also been shocked by 347V twice, once off an energized circuit and once off an unbalanced neutral wire. Both times I was lucky to have someone near me to knock me off the wire but my arm was numb for at least 6 hours after. Needless to say I don't work on live 347V anymore haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pouet Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 It isn't the voltage that kills though, it is the current. Although 347V (most commercial lighting) will cause your muscles to seize, making it impossible for you to let go of the wire/device that you are being shocked by. This allows the current the time to cause serious damage. I am an electrician and have been shocked by 120V quite a number of times, but with extremely limited current. And I have also been shocked by 347V twice, once off an energized circuit and once off an unbalanced neutral wire. Both times I was lucky to have someone near me to knock me off the wire but my arm was numb for at least 6 hours after. Needless to say I don't work on live 347V anymore haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pouet Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 That was more my point and I'm no electrician (didn't even know about 347V). A friend of mine is though and has told me stories of getting knocked off his ladder after coming in contact with 240V. With any voltage (or current, or whatever) I'd agree the sustained contact is the biggest danger for households, hence the issue with using electronics while having a bath due to the water being able to maintain the circuit with your body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMapleLaughs Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a Fool Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 The machines have begun to rise. I knew this day would come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pouet Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 It only takes 50 milliamps to kill someone at 120 volts. To put this into perspective, the smallest circuit breaker in a household panel is 15 amps. She probably died of an irregular heart rhythm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dittohead Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 She was using Wong charger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Offensive Threat Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 How many times have people, worldwide, used their iPhone while its charging. I have at least a dozen times in one day so we can easily say 500 million at the very least, one person dies, probably from a frayed wire or cheap ass aftermarket charger and this is cause for a news story? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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