Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor:  Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

These images show the painful third-degree burns a man suffered when his charging phone exploded in his face while he was using it.

The unnamed patient from the city of Zhaoqing, in South China’s Guangdong Province, remains hospitalised more than week after undergoing emergency surgery on 24th March.

He was taken to Zhaoqing First People’s Hospital with third-degree burns on 15 percent of his body, with injuries concentrated on his face, neck and both arms, his doctor said.

Lu Jinming, a burns and reconstructive surgery specialist, said the male patient suffered a blackened and charred face from the blast, which happened while he was charging and using his phone at the same time.

Shortly after being hospitalised, he required emergency surgery when his airway began to close from inhalation injuries.

Doctor Lu reported: “He had difficulty breathing, which only worsened as his face and neck began to swell.

“We contacted the operating theatre and had him intubated.

“After a week of treatment, some of his more serious injuries still require surgery.”

The medic said the patient, who is in stable condition, would require further skin grafts.

However, he is likely to have noticeable scars, and it was not certain the patient would regain full function of his fingers, the doctor added.

According to hospital reports, the patient’s phone explosion was caused by its lithium-ion battery.

The battery was an original which came with the device, but it is unclear why the explosion occurred. The make and model of the phone are unknown.

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