A mum, who was hit in the head by an exploding phone charger, has warned of the dangers of using counterfeit devices.
Serena Johnson was left shocked – but unhurt – when an imitation iPhone charger exploded and hit the back of her head.
The charger, which is designed to resemble an official Apple charger, exploded one metre away from where Ms Johnson’s seven-year-old daughter Amia was playing.
The device bears the words ‘Designed by Apple in California’ and claims to be an ‘Emerson Network Power’ model.
But the model is believed to be a cheap fake made in the Far East.
Ms Johnson, 29, from Bradley Mills, said: “My phone rang so I took it off the charger and while I was on the phone it exploded.
“It sounded like a loud gunshot and the top of the charger hit me in my head.
“My little girl was one metre away from where it happened. She was ok but a bit shaken.
“She used it too and it could have hit her.
“It was very scary; I couldn’t believe what had happened.”
Ms Johnson, a student at the University of Huddersfield, added: “I just want people to know about it. It’s not worth buying a cheaper charger when things like this can happen.”
In January, Longwood mum Donna Senior, was left reeling after an imitation iPhone charger exploded feet away from her sleeping five-week-old daughter.
And in September, student Christie Regan, 27, had a lucky escape after he plugged in his mini tablet and suffered an electric shock which blew all the fuses in the house.
Dangerous knock-off chargers have become such a problem that containers of chargers arriving from China at Felixstowe and Southampton are now regularly checked by customs inspectors.
West Yorkshire Trading Standards recommends that chargers are purchased from reputable firms such as Carphone Warehouse and Apple.
Click here to take you back to more Huddersfield news .
Want to read, watch and hear more? You can download the FREE Examiner Apple App here , the FREE Examiner Android App here or you can view the paper as an e-edition on your Apple, Android or Kindle device by clicking here
To follow us on Twitter click here
