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Mom-Of-Three Dies After Using Her Phone In The Bath
A mom-of-three has tragically died after holding her phone in the bath.
Most of the time, having a phone in your hand is the new norm; research shows that a large majority of the world‘s population integrates phone use into daily activities.
This can even include using your mobile device on the toilet, or even as entertainment in that bathtub.
Tragically, Ann-Marie O’Gorman from County Dublin was found unresponsive in the bath by her husband Joe.
O’Gorman’s husband told the Dublin District Coroner’s Court he left the family home with their youngest daughter, Megan, at 6.40 p.m. and had a brief call with his wife at 7.58 p.m. while driving home.
He believes she was already in the bath when she took his call.
He went to the bathroom to check on his wife when he arrived home, where he discovered her unresponsive on her side in the bath.
O’Gorman was found with her phone and charging cable inside the tub, which her husband threw into the sink.
O’Gorman’s husband stated that he got a small electric shock when he lifted his wife’s body out of the water. He then called for their eldest daughter, Leah, to call the emergency services.
While giving CPR to his wife, he noticed red marks on her hands and chest.
The deceased’s husband stated that a three-meter-long charging cable was plugged into a socket, and his wife’s phone was ‘just barely in the water.’
The inquest heard that the 46-year-old mother suffered from Von Willebrand disease, which is a blood-clotting condition, and also Graves’ disease, a thyroid condition.
Despite this, O’Gorman was ‘fit and healthy’ and attended a gym every morning.
The mom-of-three was pronounced dead at Beaumont Hospital on the same day.
Pathologist Heidi Okkers told the coroner’s court O’Gorman has suffered electrocution-type burns to her chest and left arm.
The pathologist also stated there was no evidence that any other health condition was a contributory factor in her death, and found no alcohol or drugs in her system.
Okkers attributed the cause of death as electrocution by a charging cable and phone while in a bath.
Consultant forensic engineer Paul Collins told the inquest he believed the phone had fallen in the water.
When O’Gorman tried to retrieve the phone, her right-hand finger came into contact with the handle of a shower attachment, which caused an electric current to pass through her body.
Collins said that a current of 2 amps, which is typical for chargers, was ‘more than enough’ to kill a person.
Tragically, the forensic engineer also theorized: “If she had not taken her hand out of the bath, she would probably still be alive.”
O’Gorman’s husband shared concern about the lack of warnings for charging iPhones in the bathroom, stating that visible warning signs should be displayed on the device’s packaging.
He said: “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.”
O’Gorman’s husband added: “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.”
Related Article: Teenager Died After Dropping Her Phone In Bathtub While On A Call With Her Friend
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