A man grieving the loss of his wife issues a dire cautionary message following her tragic death by electrocution while using a charging mobile device in a bathtub.

Ann-Marie O’Gorman, a mother of three, passed away at a Dublin hospital after her husband discovered her unconscious in their home’s ensuite bathroom on October 30, 2024.

During his testimony at the Dublin District Coroner’s Court, Joe O’Gorman recounted leaving home to take their youngest daughter to an event and later finding his wife unresponsive in the bath upon returning.

He recounted the distressing moment of discovering his wife motionless in the tub, with her iPhone and a cable in the water. In a quick reaction, he removed the electronic devices from the bath.

After experiencing a minor electric shock himself, Mr. O’Gorman called for emergency assistance and noticed peculiar marks on his wife’s body while performing CPR.

Despite her preexisting health conditions, including Von Willebrand disease and Graves’ disease, Mrs. O’Gorman was described as physically active and in good health by the inquest.

Mr. O’Gorman expressed frustration over the lack of warnings on mobile devices about the dangers of water contact during charging, citing previous incidents worldwide to emphasize the need for clear safety guidelines.

Pathologist Dr. Heidi Okkers, who conducted the autopsy, highlighted electrocution-related injuries on the deceased and confirmed water’s conductivity to electricity as a significant factor in the tragic event.

The cause of death was determined as electrocution from the charging cable and phone in the bath, with no defects found in the electronic devices. The coroner extended sympathies to the family, acknowledging the incident as a terrible tragedy.