NEED TO KNOW
- A mom of three in Ireland died of a sudden electrocution while using her phone in the bath
- The phone was plugged into a lengthy charging cord, and she was found unresponsive by her husband
- The woman’s husband urged phone companies to print warnings about the potential for electrocution after his wife’s death
A mother of three died after being electrocuted while holding her charging phone in the bath, according to a recent inquest.
Ann-Marie O’Gorman, 46, of Dublin, Ireland, died on Oct. 30 last year after her husband found her unresponsive in the bath at their home, according to Irish Mirror, Sunday World and RTÉ.
On Tuesday, Sept. 30, the court was told that Ann-Marie’s husband, Joe O’Gorman, had left home at around 6:40 p.m. to drop their youngest daughter at a disco.
He then spoke to his wife over a 23-second phone call as he drove back home at 7:58 p.m.
The court heard that Joe believed his wife was in the bath at this time, the outlets reported.
After returning home, the husband went into the bathroom to tell his wife how their daughter was, however, instead he saw Ann-Marie lying on her side.
Realizing that she was unresponsive after opening one of her eyelids, Joe noticed her iPhone and a cable in the water and quickly flung it in the sink.
PEOPLE has contacted the Dublin District Coroner’s Court for comment.
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While moving his wife out of the bath, Joe recalled that he had a minor electric shock. He also told his eldest daughter to call the ambulance.
Red marks were also discovered on Ann-Marie’s hands and chest as Joe gave her CPR.
While the mother had Von Willebrand disease and Graves’ disease, the court heard that she was “fit and healthy” and a regular gym goer.
Joe initially thought his wife had fallen asleep in the bath but suspected she had been electrocuted after seeing the phone in the water.
He told the court that he believed he wasn’t electrocuted while holding his wife due to wearing flip-flops at the time.
The 9.8-foot cable was reportedly located in the bedroom while plugged into Ann-Marie’s phone, which was “just barely in the water,” according to the reports.
Joe demanded that there should be warning signs on electronic device packaging, showcasing the dangers of using the items around water.
“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,” he said.
“There should be warnings that this is dangerous,” he added.
Joe continued, “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.”
Paramedic Fiona Tormey told the court that Ann-Marie did not respond to any treatment after emergency services arrived at the location at 8:38 p.m.
State Pathologist Heidi Okkers also stated that Ann-Marie had electrocution type burns to her chest, arm, thumb and finger after carrying out a post-mortem examination.
She added that there was no indication that the mom of three’s other health conditions contributed to her death.
Toxicology results also tested negative for drugs and alcohol.
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Ann-Marie’s cause of death was ruled electrocution by a charging cable and phone while in a bath.
Consultant forensic engineer Paul Collins also told the court that it was likely that Ann-Marie’s phone fell into the water and in an attempt to grab it, her right finger touched a shower attachment, causing her body to be electrocuted.
“Strange to say it but if she had not taken her hand out of the bath, she would probably still be alive,” he said.
Speaking about the importance of not using devices in the bathroom near water, Collins said, “Leave it on a dressing table. It doesn’t matter if it’s being charged or not.”
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