Teenager Electrocuted by Phone Charger in Thailand Sparks Safety Warning
A tragic incident in Surin’s Sikhoraphum district has left a community in shock after a 15-year-old girl was electrocuted while charging her phone.
Police reported that the teenager fell asleep with her phone on March 7 and suffered fatal burns from the charger cord. Sergeant Den Wanyang, who was alerted to the case by village headman Supee Sombat, confirmed the details on Facebook.
“At 5:30 AM on March 7, we received a report that a 15-year-old girl had died from an electric shock while lying in bed using her phone,” Sergeant Wanyang stated.
Authorities, along with doctors from Sikhoraphum Hospital, conducted an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. Images from the scene showed an extension cord and a USB Type-C cable plugged in without an adapter, raising concerns about electrical safety.
Experts Warn About USB Charger Risks
Social media users quickly weighed in on the possible cause of the electrocution. One user, Chang Tu MDS2Sound Surin, explained that faulty USB chargers can develop short circuits due to a high-voltage system malfunction. This can result in dangerous electrical currents passing through the USB cable, directly exposing users to electrocution risks.
Experts stress that high-voltage electric shocks can lead to severe injuries, including:
- Tissue and blood vessel damage – Electric currents can cause internal or external bleeding. The heat from the shock may also coagulate tissue proteins, leading to swelling.
- Severe muscle contractions – Intense muscle spasms from an electric shock can result in tissue tears and injuries.
- Burns and fluid leakage – High-voltage currents can burn the skin and underlying tissues, sometimes causing blisters that may appear as bleeding.
- Life-threatening complications – In severe cases, electric shock can lead to cardiac arrest, kidney failure, or respiratory failure.
Electrical Safety Reminders
Following the incident, parents and mobile users have been urged to take precautions when charging devices. Safety experts recommend:
- Avoid using phones while charging.
- Keep chargers away from moisture or faulty power plugs.
- Wear footwear when handling plugged-in devices on conductive surfaces like tile or cement.
- Use certified chargers and avoid low-quality cables that may pose electrical hazards.
This heartbreaking case echoes a similar incident from two years ago when a young man in Bangkok was found electrocuted while holding his charging phone.
As the grieving family receives support from the community, Sergeant Wanyang expressed his condolences, hoping this tragedy serves as a vital warning about electrical safety.
