2016 Darwin Awards

iPhone Shocker

2016 Darwin Award Winner
Confirmed True by Darwin

It is with chagrin that this writer, known to bathe while poking at her laptop keyboard, shares news of the explicable demise of Richard Bull and his iPhone. Mr. Bull, 32, plugged his charger into an extension cord and rested the charger on his chest while using the phone in the tub. He received severe burns on his chest, arm, and hand when the charger touched the water in his West London home, which mattered little as he was already dead from heart failure.

SIDEBAR: "You're vulnerable in the bathroom." A laptop or mobile phone typically has a low voltage of 5V to 20V so you will not feel anything if it falls into your bath... as long as it is not charging. If it is charging up, you are at the mercy of elemental forces, and any safety factors that may be installed to save you from yourself.

Those of us who plug into plugged-in electronics must heed the coroner's warning and take a breather in the loo. The sparky mix of electricity and water is a fact known to all, yet the doctor who conducted the iNquest plans to send a stern note to Apple. Perhaps one more warning label will solve our problem?

ORIGINAL SUBMISSION

"iWash I hadn't done that!" -Paul Seymour
"No Bull" -wR
"Did he leave any heir in the drain?" -Darwin
"Father Thomas Merton, a famous theologian, was electrocuted by an electric fan as he stepped out of the bath. Unfortunate as he was an intelligent and nice guy." -MasonK