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Mountain Biker Suffers Third-Degree Burns After iPhone Exploded In His Pocket

Mountain Biker Suffers Third-Degree Burns After iPhone Exploded In His Pocket

Your arse is on fire, mate. No. Really…

Hamish Kilburn

Hamish Kilburn

Featured image credit: Gareth Clear/Twitter @Gareth_Clear

It's not the typical injury you would expect a daredevil mountain biker to sustain on a bike ride. Nonetheless, a lad in Sydney has suffered third-degree burns after his iPhone exploded in his pocket and became stuck to his leg following a fall.


Image credit: Gareth Clear/Facebook

Gareth Clear was cycling alone through Manly Dam on Sunday afternoon. His phone was tucked in his back pocket when he misplaced his footing.

Moments after brushing himself off, the Sydney-based management consultant noticed smoke pouring from his backside, which followed by a burning sensation. Bloody hell.

The rider turned around to see that his thick cycling shorts and skin were both melting.

"The phone was stuck to my leg," he said. As he tried to remove his pants and the exploded phone, he scorched his fingers before then using his fist to punch the phone off his baked skin.


Image credit: Gareth Clear/Twitter @Gareth_Clear

"I was on my own, writhing on the ground in agony," he said.

Instead of instantly seeking help, Gareth didn't want to leave the evidence of the exploded phone. He waited for about 20 minutes for the phone to cool down before walking back to Manly. "I used two bits of wood to pick up the phone," he said.

Upon arriving back to Manly, the biker received a skin graft for his third-degree burns at the Royal North Shore Hospital.


Image credit: Gareth Clear/Twitter @Gareth_Clear

Each year the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission receives around one to two reports of consumer injuries from mobile phone batteries, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Apple has since contacted Gareth to inform him that the company is looking into the issue and has provided no further comment.

Words: Hamish Kilburn

Featured Image Credit: