13-year-old girl left with horr!fic burns on her neck after using her cellphone while it was charging

According to interviews given at the time, Illinois mother Jackie Fedro said 2016 was the year her daughter, then 13-year-old Gabbie, received her very first personal phone as a Christmas gift. The phone — an LG model — was meant to help the family stay in touch amid Gabbie’s increasingly busy sports and school schedule.

“She had reached the age where she was going to more practices, more rehearsals, more activities,” Jackie told BuzzFeed. “One of the reasons we finally gave in and bought her a phone is so we could keep in touch more easily.”

Like most teens, Gabbie quickly incorporated her new phone into daily life. Then one afternoon, while using the device as it charged, something unexpected happened: a sudden electrical discharge traveled up the cable, reached the phone, and then transferred to a metal necklace she was wearing. The contact generated enough heat to burn the skin where the necklace rested.

Gabbie was treated and recovered, but the experience left the family stunned. Jackie later described the incident as something she had never imagined could come from an everyday device she assumed was safe in all circumstances.

How Can a Charging Cord Cause an Injury?

Electrical engineers note that small shocks or discharges can occur when a charger, phone, or cable malfunctions — especially if:

The charging cable is damaged

The cord’s internal insulation is compromised

A charger is counterfeit or lacks safety certification

The user is wearing metal jewelry

The phone is being used heavily during charging

In Gabbie’s case, investigators concluded the current most likely originated from the charger or cable, then traveled into the necklace due to its conductivity. While the injury was serious enough to require medical treatment, experts emphasize that such accidents remain uncommon.

However, the incident highlights a reality many consumers overlook: not all chargers and cables are equal, and not all electrical interactions are obvious.

Why Using a Phone While Charging Can Increase Risk