A mother of three tragically passed away after using her phone in the bathtub while it was connected to the electrical outlet.
Joe O’Gorman is advocating for clearer risk warnings on electronic devices following the death of his wife, Ann-Marie O’Gorman, who used her plugged-in phone while bathing at their residence in Santry, Dublin.
During an inquest at Dublin District Coroner’s Court, Joe expressed concerns about people being misled by the perceived safety of waterproof phones promoted by companies like Apple. He discovered his unresponsive wife in their bathroom on October 30, 2024, and despite efforts by paramedics, she could not be revived.
Joe recounted finding his wife in the bath upon returning home after dropping off their daughter. He noticed her iPhone and cable in the water, swiftly removing them and administering CPR, despite receiving a mild shock himself.
Despite suffering from health conditions, including Von Willebrand disease and Graves’ disease, Ann-Marie was described as active and healthy. Joe emphasized the absence of warnings on iPhones about the dangers of water exposure during charging.
He highlighted similar incidents globally and urged for prominent safety warnings on all electronic device packaging. Joe emphasized the need for awareness about the risks of using phones near water, emphasizing the lack of action by manufacturers to address these hazards.
Paramedic Fiona Tormey testified about the emergency response, stating that despite efforts, Ann-Marie did not respond to treatment and was pronounced dead at the scene. State pathologist Heidi Okkers confirmed electrocution as the cause of death, attributing it to the phone and charging cable in the bath.
Dr. Okkers explained the lethal effects of electric currents on the heart and emphasized the dangers of water as a conductor. A forensic engineer, Paul Collins, confirmed the sequence of events leading to the electrocution and emphasized the lethal potential of low-voltage currents from phone chargers.
Mr. Collins stressed the importance of keeping phones away from water and noted the absence of fault in the devices involved. The coroner acknowledged the risks associated with using phones in baths and extended condolences to the O’Gorman family for the tragic loss.
The inquest raised concerns about the prevalence of electronic devices in bathrooms and the need for increased safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
