A 15-year-old schoolgirl has died in a horrific incident after being electrocuted by her mobile phone while it was charging, sparking major safety concerns about device usage.
Tragic Discovery and Desperate Hospital Journey
Beatriz Costa Diniz, from Jutai in northern Brazil, was found by her father on January 15 after suffering a powerful electric shock from her phone. The teenager was using the device while it remained plugged into a wall outlet, leading to the fatal accident.
She was initially rushed to a local hospital approximately thirty minutes from her home. However, medical staff quickly determined her injuries were so severe that she required specialist attention unavailable at the first facility.
Multiple Transfers and Intensive Care
The critically injured teen was subsequently transferred to two additional hospitals in a desperate bid to save her life. One of these facilities was located three hours away from the initial treatment centre.
Despite eventually receiving intensive care treatment and undergoing surgery, Beatriz succumbed to her injuries on Monday, January 19. Brazil's Scientific Police confirmed her death the following day after releasing her body.
Severe Injuries and Community Outpouring
Medical reports indicate the electric shock caused Beatriz to fall to the ground, leaving her with second and third degree burns. Tallita Pinheiro, Secretary of Health for Augusto Corrêa, confirmed transportation was arranged to move her to the Metropolitan Hospital in Greater Belém for specialised treatment.
The tragedy has caused significant uproar in the local community of Augusto Corrêa, where Beatriz was well-known and well-liked. Friends and neighbours described her as a supportive family member who helped provide income by selling tapioca flatbreads on buses in northern Brazil.
Investigations and Electrical Safety Warnings
Local authorities are investigating the exact circumstances surrounding her death, currently treating the incident as accidental. Meanwhile, the energy concessionaire Equatorial Pará dispatched a technical team to examine the local electricity network.
The power company reported finding no evidence of fluctuations or outages in the system supplying the area in the thirty days preceding the incident. While local media attribute the death to electric shock, some social media sources have suggested it may have resulted from a mobile phone charger explosion.
Critical Safety Advice from Experts
Electrical safety experts have issued urgent warnings following this tragedy, emphasising that using a phone while it charges significantly increases electrocution risks if the charger is faulty, counterfeit, or damaged.
Key dangers identified include:
- Internal insulation failure in chargers allowing high-voltage current to reach low-voltage devices
- Handling charging devices with wet hands or near water sources
- Using non-certified or damaged charging equipment
This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential hazards associated with everyday technology and the importance of proper electrical safety practices when using mobile devices.
