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Man dies after mobile phone explodes in his pocket

4 February 2009 10:18 by James "Dela" Delahunty | 31 comments

A man has died after a mobile phone reportedly exploded in his shirt pocket last Friday. The incident happened in a store in Guangzhou, China. The man worked as a shop assistent at the store, and reportedly had recently swapped out his handset's original battery for a new one. An employee at a nearby store heard the bang and went to investigate, only to find the man lying on the ground in a pool of blood.

Local media reports indicate that the explosion severed an artery in his neck, and he died from massive blood loss. A make and model of the handset has not yet been released by Police, but local media reported the fatal explosion occurred at a Lenovo store, but it is unclear whether it was an official outlet or a shop selling Lenovo products.

Reports of incidents such as this in the past usually involve the use of a low-quality third-party battery. Handset makers, and other manufacturers of consumer electronics products highly recommend that original batteries developed for the products are not swapped out for third-party batteries, particularly because of isolated incidents such as this one.

Permalink to this article | Topics: Gadgets Phones

French teenager claims iPhone exploded (13 August 2009)

'Exploding' iPod Touch leads to lawsuit (15 March 2009)

60 percent of the world has mobile phones (3 March 2009)

Apple will replace faulty iPod Nano batteries in Japan (21 August 2008)

iPod Nano catches fire in man's pocket (6 October 2007)

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powerq (Newbie) 4 February 2009 12:25
*Originally posted by wdtv:* I guess you get what you pay for. I wonder if the person calling him will be charged for manslaughter. The article says the phone was in his pocket. Why do you think he was getting a call? Was it from you? Get yourself a good lawyer. [ + quote]
Dela (Staff Member) 4 February 2009 12:32
*Originally posted by slickwill:* Wait what, the article is just suggesting a possible reasons. It hasn't been confirmed whether or not the cell phone contained a faulty third-party battery or not. For all we know, that battery could have been an official product for that phone, and they want to put the blame towards third-party battery manufactures instead of those who are truly responsible. His friend confirmed he recently changed the battery, and this article is only going by the source. [ + quote]
BIGTOXY69 (Senior Member) 4 February 2009 14:07
Or Maybe ? - Maybe He was'nt on The Right Party Line As in Communist Party ( over there ) and was Causing Them problems ( Inciting Democray ) ect... and They Cloned his phone and surreptitously swapped it out on him ? same phone and Number , Same contact list and data ect... - except this one has a small charge of Semtex or something similar and has been wired to detonate automatically after being remotely turned on and recieving a series of tones or once they confirm he's really himself - Kinda like This Hello Mr. XisO Ping Wing ? Yes This is XiaO ! Then The signal and Blammo !Problem ( For The Goverment anyways ) is solved ! I am sorry for the gentleman and his family as well ! I'm not saying that this is what actually happened! But THink about this The U.S.A 's F.B.I caught a Bunch Of Organized Crime ( MOB,MAFIA ect...) types by remotely Turning on their cell phones michrophone even though the Phone was apparently off at the time ? And the Crooks like most people nowadays simply take the ubiquitous CELL PHONE for granted but always have theirs with them . 2. As long as your Cell phone is on even in stand by the ( PHONE Company & Or Goverment Can track You to within a few feet !!!. Also the technology is older but The Mossad used to Take out terrorist by telephone/ Land Line - they would swap out the telephone for another one ( exact same kind ) and the new one would be loaded with Plastique / Explosives ? C-4 ect... then like before it's just a call - Hello Aziz Abdullah ? yes This is Aziz - Then they detonate the phone again Problem ( for them -Israel) solved - See the movie Sword of Gideon for a visual on this !. I'm not a paranoid and or a conspiracy freak I'm just saying this could have happened to our Chinese gentleman that's all - Oh well the Martians are Coming to Get me again back to the Ungerground Bunker Ciao Mutants !!!!!!!!!! [ + quote]
BIGTOXY69 (Senior Member) 4 February 2009 14:14
Also - cell phones have been Made into Guns/ firearms so maybe he grabbed the wrong phone and made a fatal phone call ?- That had to be a pretty strong charge to sever his jugular from his pocket ( shrapnel maybe?) It's a sad day this man died But atleast he was'nt carrying it in his pants pocket - Hey Dead is dead I understand that ! But that would've really hurt First ! [ + quote]
EnigmaCM (Junior Member) 4 February 2009 14:33
He might off ticked the wrong cell phone company off by getting a knockoff battery. I know competition is a B@#$% but damn. Seriously though, could this possibly be another Nokia battery scare with the defective batteries? [ + quote]
SamNz (Newbie) 4 February 2009 14:59
*Originally posted by atomicxl:* First off, I want to say that this a tragic event and I feel pain and sorrow for his loved ones. But I LOL'd when I saw this headline on Afterdawn second that lol, u cant help but at least laugh a lil [ + quote]
snowlock (Junior Member) 4 February 2009 15:32
*Originally posted by OneMember:* Yep, don't buy cheap clone from China... i mean, OEM batteries are already pretty cheap just on amazon... [ + quote]
blueboy09 (Newbie) 4 February 2009 16:23
Yes, I do feel bad about this man. Accidents like this should make us thing twice about buying certain third-party products, cause you never know what the end result will be (ie., faulty and defective parts), although IMO this was an extreme isolated incident. [ + quote]
DXR88 (Senior Member) 4 February 2009 16:51
im sorry but a phone doesn't just explode and sever an artery this was planned. plus batteries don't have that kind of KE power without modification. when they do explode its usually just a pop, or it leaks. police usually not releasing info means there is or was some foul play, in this incident. [ + quote]
7thsinger (AfterDawn Addict) 4 February 2009 16:54
Well, the alternative to having the phone is his shirt pocket would be to have it in his pants pocket. In which case he'd probably be wishing he was dead. [ + quote]
Hyasuma (Newbie) 4 February 2009 17:02
Thats why you have to watch out the "Made in China"....specially IN China [ + quote]
kiwi1 (Member) 4 February 2009 23:54
Educational vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DcpANRFrI4&feature=related [ + quote]
DXR88 (Senior Member) 5 February 2009 0:07
*Originally posted by kiwi1:* Educational vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DcpANRFr...related it caught on fire it did not explode, as most battery's don't. [ + quote]
leady (Newbie) 5 February 2009 18:16
Another fake news. I saw the latest version is someone shotted him ......... [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 5 February 2009 18:16
jtyler020 (Newbie) 5 February 2009 19:16
I realize the article is posted on the Register ... but is this for real? For some reason, it just doesn't seem real? ccna certification training kits [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 5 February 2009 19:17
ripxrush (Junior Member) 6 February 2009 1:55
ok so that battery didn't explode but just gun powder on the ground dont explode either it just burns! put it in a tight container & when that pressure docent release it will blow! i even if not that would be some serious burns to the face possibly causing death! just you tube LIPO battery explosion [ + quote]
Mr-Movies (Member) 6 February 2009 12:25
*Originally posted by DXR88:* im sorry but a phone doesn't just explode and sever an artery this was planned. plus batteries don't have that kind of KE power without modification. when they do explode its usually just a pop, or it leaks. police usually not releasing info means there is or was some foul play, in this incident. It was probably the same people that got JFK I'm waiting for the Zapruder�s film for this one, OH please let's get real here. Batteries can explode violently even though that is far from normal so I wouldn't rule it out. And remember it might have been a crappy Lenova which is really IBM. Of course it could have been a pocket nuke too... heheheheheh.... [ + quote]
plazma247 (Junior Member) 6 February 2009 13:40
You have received a sim update from your network operator..... [ + quote]
damncrap (Newbie) 6 February 2009 13:50
I'd think its possible, there was that one incident with the guys Ipod in his pocket popped and set his leg on fire. It was the battery inside. Apple said it happens sometimes but its very rare. So why not a cell phone battery? epsecialy one in china. I couldnt help but laugh after reading this though, in your mind you think thats terrible but its too hard to not laugh at it...This will be the result of early contract terminations lol. [ + quote]
Jimpapadi (Newbie) 7 February 2009 5:11
Hey!! SOS!! Don't you think that must have been some terrorist attack on an ungrand scale? [ + quote]
Lovett (Inactive) 7 February 2009 6:54
foul language removed [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 10 February 2009 13:10
pmshah (Newbie) 7 February 2009 12:16
Regardless of what anyone says it is a fact that 95% all rechargeable batteries are manufactured in China. Just open any of your cell phones or what have you. [ + quote]
noncomjd (Newbie) 8 February 2009 5:51
*Originally posted by DXR88:* im sorry but a phone doesn't just explode and sever an artery this was planned. plus batteries don't have that kind of KE power without modification. when they do explode its usually just a pop, or it leaks. police usually not releasing info means there is or was some foul play, in this incident. A Transformer? Has it started??? I thought they were only large machines. I guess they now come in all sizes. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 8 February 2009 5:52
DXR88 (Senior Member) 8 February 2009 14:00
Haha, gosh your funny. the battery could have exploded, i agree but to have enough kinetic Energy to blow this mans phone into pieces, sending plastic thew the man's neck it sounds like foul play to me. that or the divine really wanted this man dead. [ + quote]
vballstud (Inactive) 8 February 2009 15:11
Can you hear me now? [ + quote]
chrissd (Newbie) 24 March 2009 23:57
*Quote:* *Originally posted by atomicxl:* First off, I want to say that this a tragic event and I feel pain and sorrow for his loved ones. But I LOL'd when I saw this headline on Afterdawn second that lol, u cant help but at least laugh a lil Third lol. It's just funny. But.. Shirt pocket explosion severed artery in neck? My shirt pockets aren't that high. =P [ + quote]