A 28-year-old mother of two has died after being electrocuted by a faulty phone charger in her New South Wales home. Sheryl Andeguer was found with burns to her head, ears, and chest, and investigators believe a cheap USB charger sent 240 volts through her body.
Andeguer, originally from the Philippines, had recently moved to North Gosford after securing a job and was hoping her family could join her. She was found near a smartphone and a plugged-in laptop, apparently speaking on the phone while it was charging and wearing earphones.
The charger is suspected to have been purchased for $4.99 from a Campsie phone accessories store, which has since closed. The store owner faces possible prosecution, with penalties of up to two years in prison or heavy fines if convicted.
NSW Fair Trading officials have seized chargers, travel adaptors, and power boards from the store that did not meet safety standards. Commissioner Rod Stowe warned of a 'real and present danger' from unapproved electrical items, urging consumers to avoid cheap products.
'The last reported fatality from an electrical appliance was five years ago,' said Fair Trading expert Lynelle Collins. 'Sometimes when you buy the really cheap products, you're getting an inferior product.'
Authorities advise anyone with unapproved USB chargers to bend the pins and dispose of them immediately. Information about noncompliant electrical products can be reported to Fair Trading on 13 32 20.
