We were all so quick to make fun that time a Samsung phone exploded in a man’s pocket and there even emerged memes about the incident. I guess it’s not that funny when it comes closer home and you realize just how dangerous these devices can be.
In Homa Bay county, a 45-year old woman identified as Mary Akinyi from Kadibuoro Village in Rangwe Constituency died after lightning struck her cell phone and transmitted the charge into her body.
Her husband, Patrick Yala Okach, was also injured during the incident and rushed to Ndiru Health Centre for emergency treatment.
Her husband, Patrick Yala Okach, was also injured during the incident and rushed to Ndiru Health Centre for emergency treatment.
According to Mr Okach’s brother, Nathaniel Ochieng’, the mobile phone which belonged to Ms Akinyi was in clpse contact with her skin when it exploded and transmitted charges into her body killing her on the spot.
Mr. Ochieng further revealed that Ms. Akinyi had suffered severe burns in the incident which also destroyed other electronic devices that were connected to the solar system.
A doctor at Ndiru Health Centre, Duncan Ngicho, said that Mr. Okach was rushed to the facility while in critical condition.
“He was vomiting blood; and was unconscious, when he was brought to the medical clinic at midnight,” said Mr Ngicho.
The medical doctor said that Mr. Okach had developed a “general weakness”, and sustained cuts in his face from broken glass in the incident but is in a stable condition as doctors monitor his progress.
Ms Akinyi’s body was moved to Rosewood Hospital mortuary in Rongo, Migori County.
According to a publication in the June 2006 issue of the British Medical Journal(BMJ), people who talk on, or even just carry, mobile phones during storms are more likely to sustain fatal internal injuries if struck by lightning.
Human skin is resistant to transmitting electricity into the body, so when lightning strikes a person, it tends to travel along the skin.
Who ever thought that lightning would ever cause a phone to explode?