A husband grieving the loss of his wife has shared a urgent cautionary message following her tragic death due to electrocution while using a charging mobile phone in a bathtub.
Ann-Marie O’Gorman, a 46-year-old mother of three, was pronounced dead at a Dublin hospital after being found unconscious by her husband in their home’s en-suite bathroom on October 30, 2024.
Joe O’Gorman informed the Dublin District Coroner’s Court that he had left the house around 6:40 pm to drop off their youngest daughter at her first disco. During his drive back home, he briefly spoke with his wife at 7:58 pm and suspected she might have been in the bath.
Upon returning home, Mr. O’Gorman discovered his wife motionless in the bath, with her iPhone and a cable in the water. He quickly removed the items and noticed red marks on her hands and chest while attempting CPR.
Despite facing health conditions such as Von Willebrand disease and Graves’ disease, Ms. O’Gorman was described as “fit and healthy” and maintained a rigorous gym routine. Her husband expressed concern over the lack of warnings on iPhones regarding the risks of water contact during charging.
Mr. O’Gorman highlighted previous incidents of electrocution involving mobile phones and urged for clearer warnings on electronic device packaging. Pathologist Dr. Heidi Okkers confirmed electrocution as the cause of death, emphasizing water’s conductivity to electricity.
The inquest determined that there were no defects in the phone, charger, or cable. The coroner offered condolences to the family and termed the incident a “horrendous tragedy.”