"His entire body turned black"... 8-year-old boy nearly loses his life after charging phone while sleeping—What happened?

[The Financial News] An 8-year-old boy narrowly escaped death after being electrocuted while sleeping with his phone charging.
According to international media outlets such as People magazine and 12 News on the 5th, Lorenzo Lopez (8), who lives in Kansas, USA, experienced an electric shock accident last month while sleeping in his bed.
The cause was a phone that was charging on the bed. The charger was loosely plugged into a power strip, and as the boy tossed and turned in his sleep, the metal chain necklace he was wearing slipped between the power strip and the charger, resulting in an electric shock.
As the current passed through, Lorenzo felt heat on his neck and tried to scream, but his body was paralyzed and he couldn't make a sound. Fortunately, he managed to pull off the necklace and was then able to call for help.
Lorenzo's mother, Courtney Pendleton, told the media that medical staff said, "If he hadn't removed the necklace in time, he could have died from electrocution."
Lorenzo was immediately taken to the hospital after the accident, where he underwent skin graft surgery. He is expected to remain hospitalized for about two weeks.
Pendleton shared on her social media, "Lorenzo hopes that by sharing his story, other children can avoid similar dangers," adding, "Never leave electronic devices near children's beds."

In May, a 16-year-old boy in the United States was also seriously injured after his necklace touched a charger plug while charging his phone in bed. The boy sustained severe scars from his jaw to his collarbone, with a cross-shaped mark left on his skin. The damaged area could not heal naturally, so he had to undergo skin graft surgery.
In Italy, a teenage girl was electrocuted after dropping her charging smartphone into the bathtub. In Vietnam, a teenage boy died from electrocution after using a damaged cable wrapped in tape.
Charging a smartphone on the bed increases the risk of electric shock and fire. The charging process generates heat, and bedding such as blankets, pillows, and comforters can trap this heat, preventing it from dissipating.
If this situation continues, the internal temperature of the device can rise rapidly, leading to battery overheating, charger damage, or even fire.
Charging on the bed also increases the likelihood that the plug may not be fully inserted or may have poor contact. In such cases, electrical sparks can occur, and if metal accessories or moisture come into contact, current may leak out, resulting in electric shock.
Children are especially vulnerable because their bodies are smaller and more sensitive to electric current, making them more susceptible to severe injury.
Using certified chargers is also important. According to data released by the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) in 2021, a safety and labeling investigation of 20 fast chargers found that four products did not meet safety standards.
In fact, a teenage boy died in Jiangxi Province, China, after being electrocuted while charging his phone with a cheap charger at a restaurant outlet.
Experts advise, "The main cause of electric shock accidents is contact with charging parts where electricity flows, such as outlets. In particular, there are frequent accidents when people touch outlets with wet hands or play with electronic devices. Parental supervision is essential."
moon@fnnews.com Moon Young-jin Reporter