Fortunately, only small burn to the thumb was suffered

Oct 9, 2016 07:46 GMT  ·  By

A replacement Samsung Galaxy Note 7 that’s supposed to be safe to use has exploded in Farmington, Minnesota, while being used by a 13-year-old girl without being plugged in.

KSTP is reporting that Abby Zuis was using her Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Friday when all of a sudden, she started feeling a burning sensation in her hands. The phone began emitting smoke and then caught fire, but fortunately, the protective cover that the teen was using led to only minor injuries to her thumb.

“It felt like pins and needles except a lot more intense,” she was quoted as saying in an interview. No other injuries were suffered, the girl added.

It goes without saying that she threw the phone to the ground when it caught fire, and then a school principal kicked it out of the building to avoid any other damages or injuries. Only earlier today it has emerged that another Note 7 owner started “vomiting black” after inhaling smoke emitted by his burning phone, so kicking the device out of a closed space is a very smart decision.

“I’m glad it was in my hand and not my pocket,” the girl said, adding that she was only waiting to pick up her siblings from school when the incident happened. The phone wasn’t plugged into a charger.

Father: Samsung should start second recall

Andrew Zuis, the father of the teen, said in an interview that the phone that exploded was a safe unit received from Samsung after exchanging the original model purchased in August. Receipts confirm that the replacement unit was received on September 21 and it was supposed to come with a safe battery.

Samsung provided the typical “we’re investigating” statement and explained that it already contacted the girl’s family to discuss the matter.

“We want to reassure our customers that we take every report seriously and we are engaged with the Zuis family to ensure we are doing everything we can for them and their daughter,” the firm said.

What’s more interesting, however, is that the girl’s father proposed a plan that we’ve already suggested earlier this week: a second recall that would involve safe units as well, as it’s pretty clear that even replacement units are posing huge risks of explosion even though they’re not supposed to come with defective batteries.

“If the new phones that are supposed to be the replacement aren't doing what it's supposed to, there's no reason my daughter or someone to be injured by their phone,” the father concluded.