Ealing Man Electrocuted by His iPhone

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Richard Bull was charging his device while taking a bath

An inquest this month has heard how a 32-year-old man from Ealing died at home in the bath after being electrocuted while charging his iPhone.

Richard Bull, who played rugby for Old Actonians, is believed to have rested the phone on his chest while charging the device. When it made contact with the water it delivered a fatal shock on 11 December last year.

Richard Bull

The coroner ruled his death as accidental and is to send a report to Apple with the aim of preventing deaths of this nature in the future.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) has warned against using any electrical appliance in the bathroom. Public health adviser Sheila Merrill said, "People need to be aware of taking an electrical appliance into the bathroom.

"The advice has always been given with regard to hairdryers and radios - not to use in the bathroom. If you have got any appliance attached to the mains electricity circuit, you have to be aware there is a danger there.

"You're risking death. Electricity and water don't mix, but particularly with phones, people probably don't always think about it."

Over £1,000 has been raised in Mr Bull's memory by friends and family for The Salvation Army.

March 29, 2017