Australian student burned by recalled Zip Zap charger highlights safety concerns around power banks

A university student in regional New South Wales was left with severe burns after a portable charger exploded beside him in the middle of the night. Ollie Anderson, 21, was awakened when the device erupted inside his Armadale accommodation. He had borrowed the charger from a friend and had left it plugged in overnight.

Anderson said he woke to flames engulfing his right arm, with flames shooting across his body. He thought the entire building would catch fire. He was rushed to hospital with burns from his shoulder to his wrist. He says the pain is such that he cannot pour water on the wounds and now requires treatment every two days.

The charger was borrowed from a family friend and bought from Zip Zap, an Australian company. The friend later learned Zip Zap had issued a product recall in 2024 for its Zap Pad. The recall covered orders placed between October 15, 2023 and December 27, 2023.

Zip Zap said it alerted affected customers via email and text during July, September, October and November of 2024. The recall notice stated that safety and customer satisfaction were top priorities and outlined steps for affected owners to return the product.

Anderson said the incident has made life harder and limited mobility in his right arm. He plans to pursue compensation and intends to contact Zip Zap after completing his university exams. He has also changed his charging habits, saying he no longer charges his phone overnight.

Context around recalls: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission notes 17 power bank recalls since 2020, with nine recalls in the past two years, underscoring ongoing safety concerns about portable chargers and related devices.