Mobile phone may have killed quarry worker

Reuters ^ | November 29, 2007

[Toddsterpatriot]

SEOUL (Reuters) - A 33-year-old South Korean quarry worker was found dead with a burning mobile phone stuck to his chest, police and the doctor who examined the man said on Thursday.

The man, who was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital, had burns on his chest, fractured ribs and internal bleeding, the doctor said.

"When he was admitted into the emergency room, the melted mobile phone was stuck to the left side of his shirt," said Kim Hoon, professor at emergency department at Chungbuk National University Hospital, who examined the victim.

"I cannot think of any other cause of his death other than his mobile phone exploding," Kim said.

Police said they are investigating that as a possible cause and whether it was triggered by a faulty battery, Yonhap news agency reported. It will take about 10 days to complete the probe into what led to the death.

"He (the victim) was found lying next to an excavator while working at a stone quarry," an official from the Cheongju Heungdeok police station, about 100 km (60 miles) southeast of Seoul, told Reuters.

Witness Kwon Young-sup told national broadcaster YTN: "He was lying on the ground and his mobile phone was still burning so I had to put the fire out."

[Toddsterpatriot]

Stallone on the phone.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Don’t take that call ping!

[NonValueAdded]

Whoa, tough call (npi). Do I carry the phone in a shirt pocket or a pants pocket?

[1rudeboy]

Note to self: set phone to stun.

[Deguello]

"He was lying on the ground and his mobile phone was still burning so I had to put the fire out."

Did he piss on the guy?

[Toddsterpatriot]

Adding insult to injury.

[Sacajaweau]

Fractured ribs and internal bleeding?

Maybe someone hit him in the rib cage...causing the phone to explode somehow.

I think there's more to this...but that's because I question my own opinion first.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Maybe someone hit him in the rib cage...causing the phone to explode somehow.

Exactly, if it exploded first, why would it still be stuck to his body?

[BlazingArizona]

I thought the iWhack was intended for the Middle Eastern market, not Korea!

[InABunkerUnderSF]

Poor guy.

Sounds like a case for CSI Chungbuk. (Be glad when the writer’s strike is over.)

[N. Theknow]

Need a safety lock on the “Send” button.

[Sacajaweau]

I think your body would fall face down if it simply exploded.

But it sounds like he was found face up. I'm almost inclined to think the guy who found him is involved and was adding the final touches.

What happens if you pour water on a cell phone?? When a call is coming in?

Any other incidents of cell phones exploding without provocation of any sort?

[Sacajaweau]

Wonder if there a lot of bodies in that quarry.

[From One - Many]

My bet, what killed him, is a counterfeit battery from south of the border, or perhaps the entire phone was counterfeit.

[Salamander]

When Cthulu calls, let the machine pick up!

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

Always heard that terror cells could be dangerous.

[Minnesoootan]

Stomped it out....causing fractured ribs and internal bleeding.

[InsensitiveConservative]

Can you hear me now?

[null and void]

Maybe someone hit him in the rib cage...causing the phone to explode somehow.

Someone or something.

He's in a quarry. A loose rock tumbles down off the cut and bounces into his chest, crushing his ribs, and the cell phone. The cell's battery shorts out and starts a fire.

[Toddsterpatriot]

My bet, what killed him, is a counterfeit battery from south of the border

A 33-year-old South Korean quarry worker.....

What country is south of the South Korean border?