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Australian man sues Apple, seeks compensation after iPhone explodes in pocket

Image credit: 7News

Last updated

An Australian man who landed himself in the hospital after his iPhone X exploded in his pocket now seeks compensation from Apple.

In 2019, Melbourne-based scientist Robert De Rose suffered second-degree burns when his year-old iPhone X exploded in his pocket while at work.

"I heard a faint pop sound, followed by a fizz and then I felt intense pain on my right leg, so I immediately jumped up and realised it was my phone," he told 7NEWS. "I had ash everywhere, and my skin had peeled back."

De Rose claimed that he had reported the issue directly to Apple but received no response. He now plans to seek compensation and wants to warn other iPhone owners of the potential danger.

Carbone Lawyers' Tony Carbone said that the firm would be representing a second man who claimed an overheating Apple Watch had burnt his wrist. The two lawsuits had been filed with the County Court.

An Apple spokesperson responded to the incident, stating that the company takes customer safety extremely seriously, and that the two complaints are being investigated.

All smartphones are potentially at risk of fire due to their use of lithium-ion batteries. Issues like overheating, leakage, or penetration of the battery cell can cause a runaway effect. Placing a phone in your pocket could enable the phone to bend when sat upon, increasing the risk of battery damage.



10 Comments

luisirizarry63 6 Years · 8 comments

Is crazy a phone an iPhone X at that explosion burns 🥵 2nd degree burns that no good. But his a scientist fishy !!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I hope and pray that you are doing fine. 

yoyo2222 14 Years · 144 comments

I suspect a battery replacement by a non-approved repair shop.

sflocal 16 Years · 6138 comments

I hope this incident is followed up.  I lost track of how many similar stories were passed around social media, crucifying Apple only to be determined it was due to involvement of a 3rd-party, unauthorized repair with defective parts, or faulty Chinese knock-off chargers, or user-created.

Even if this turns out to be true... of the hundreds of millions of iPhoneX phones sold, this would be (for me) what... ONE incident?

chelin 12 Years · 115 comments

Is crazy a phone an iPhone X at that explosion burns 🥵 2nd degree burns that no good. But his a scientist fishy !!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
I hope and pray that you are doing fine. 

QAnon has arrived at AI.