A 14-year-old schoolgirl tragically died after her mobile phone exploded under her pillow as she slept. Alua Asetkyzy Abzalbek from Bastobe, Kazakhstan had been listening to music earlier in the day on the device and decided to plug it into its charger overnight to restore the battery. However, this decision ultimately ended up killing her, leaving her to be found dead by her family the next morning.
- It’s likely she died on the spot. While Alua’s family tried in vain to help her the following morning by calling paramedics, it was already too late. She’s believed to have experienced severe head trauma and authorities say she likely died on the spot.
- The phone overheated while charging. A forensic examination showed that the phone’s consistent charging while hooked up overnight led the device to overheat and ultimately expode. While the brand of smartphone has yet to be confirmed, what’s clear is that it’s dangerous for any electronic devices to be continually receiving charge overnight and it’s best that said devices are unplugged before sleeping or even leaving the house. It’s also recommended that you use only licensed products and chargers, as many cheaper, unbranded alternatives fail to pass safety regulations.
- Alua’s best friend was devastated. Ayazhan Dolasheva, 15, posted to social media after Alua’s passing, writing: “I still cannot believe it. You were the best. We have been together since childhood. It is so hard for me without you. I miss you so much. You have left me forever.”
- Hopefully, this will serve as a reminder to stay vigilant. While Alua likely assumed it was perfectly safe to leave her phone plugged in overnight, she tragically lost her life to this simple action. Hopefully, it leads other to think carefully about how we handle our devices so that a similar tragedy can be avoided in the future.
