On the night of November 22, 2025, an 8-year-old boy named Lorenzo (“Renzo”) suffered a terrifying electrocution incident that his family describes as a “freak accident”, one that left him with severe burns, required emergency hospitalization, and will force him to undergo extensive skin-grafting surgery.
According to the family, the accident unfolded while Renzo’s phone was plugged into an extension cord on his bed. The cable had been pulled just enough to loosen the charger connection, creating a small exposed electrical gap. The exposed contact point was capable of sparking if conductive metal came near it. As Renzo moved in bed, his necklace slipped directly into that gap, instantly completing an electrical circuit through the metal chain.
The contact triggered a violent electric shock and a flash ignition, burning the necklace into his skin and setting parts of it on fire.
Doctors later told the family that if Renzo had not acted immediately, the accident could have been fatal.
Family members shared that the accident occurred late at night while Renzo was sleeping, with his phone charging beside him on the bed.
Renzo felt a sudden, intense surge of heat on his neck, followed by a burning flash.
"The moment his necklace touched the gap, it ignited instantly," his family said.
In a panicked but life-saving reaction, Renzo managed to rip the burning necklace off himself before the shock could continue traveling through his body. Physicians later praised this action, saying it likely prevented far more extensive internal injury or even death.
Renzo was rushed to the hospital with significant burns to his neck and surrounding areas. He is expected to remain hospitalized for at least two weeks, according to the family.
Doctors have informed them that he will require skin graft surgery, using donor skin from multiple areas of his body:
Scalp - requiring doctors to shave his entire head to harvest skin
Legs and feet, where additional grafts will be taken
Possible additional grafts depending on healing progression
Burn injuries of this type require meticulous wound care, pain management, and infection prevention, and often involve long recovery times.
The family says the ordeal has been extremely difficult for Renzo emotionally, especially as he prepares for major surgery and adjusts to the trauma of the incident.
“This is taking quite an emotional toll on him,” they said, “but he’s fighting hard, the tough, brave little boy he is. A true survivor.”
Renzo has remained alert and cooperative with doctors, who are optimistic about his recovery, though they caution that rehabilitation may be lengthy.
Renzo’s family hopes sharing his story will raise awareness about hidden electrical hazards in everyday living spaces, especially environments where children may use devices in bed.
(Rh/TL)