Man claims exploding iPhone left him with severe leg burns
theGRIO REPORT - A New York man is claiming there was no warning before his iPhone exploded in his pocket.
A New York man is claiming there was no warning before his iPhone exploded in his pocket, sending him to a nearby hospital.
Erik Johnson of Lindenhurst, New York says his iPhone 5C was in his pocket when he bent over to pick up his car keys. He then claims the smartphone suddenly exploded, leaving him with severe second and third-degree burns on his leg.
“When I went to bend over, I heard a pop,” he told CNN. “I heard a sizzling, and I ended up ripping my pants off to stop it from burning me.”
Johnson, who works as an operating engineer in New York City, said there was no warning. He said he tried to get the phone out of his pocket, but the extreme heat was melting the edges of the pocket closed, so he ripped at the fabric of his pants.
“I was trying to get it out of my pocket,” Johnson said. “It started burning right through my pants. It was burning my leg, and I had to get my pants off somehow.”
Johnson’s brother drove him to the nearby hospital, and Johnson was then taken by ambulance to the Burn Center at Staten Island University Hospital where he spent 10 days.
“I still can’t believe it,” Johnson said. “I’ve never dealt with anything like this before.”
Mike Della, a personal injury lawyer, says Apple has not responded to two phone calls and a letter. When reached for comment by CNN, they said they were looking into the matter.
“First and foremost, we have to find out how this happened and prevent it from happening ever again,” Della said. “That’s the whole goal here. Is the product safe?”
“You shouldn’t have to worry about your phone exploding,” he added.
