中国人女性がiPhoneで謎の感電死 ― electrocute

充電中のiPhoneへの着信に応答した中国人の女性が感電死する事故があったというニュースが話題になっています。

中国ということで、粗悪な模倣品でも使っていたんじゃないかとも思われる方も多いかも知れませんが、この女性は正規品のiPhoneとこれまた正規品の充電器を使っていたそうです。


(Reuters) - Apple Inc is investigating an accident in which a Chinese woman was killed by an electric shock when answering a call on her iPhone 5 while it was charging, the U.S. technology company said on Monday.

Last Thursday, Ma Ailun, a 23-year-old woman from China's western Xinjiang region and a flight attendant with China Southern Airlines, was electrocuted when she took a call on the charging mobile telephone, the official Xinhua news agency quoted police as saying on Sunday.

"We are deeply saddened to learn of this tragic incident and offer our condolences to the Ma family. We will fully investigate and cooperate with authorities in this matter," Apple said in an e-mail.

Apple declined to comment on details, such as whether this was an isolated case.
(Apple to probe death of Chinese woman who used iPhone when it was charging. Reuters. July 15, 2013.)


今日の単語は、"electrocute"です。

お分かりのように、電気を意味する"electr-"と、"execute"が組み合わさってできた、かばん語の1つです。

"execute"、というとおっかないですが、電気椅子の死刑を意味するほかに、事故で感電死する場合にも用いるようです。