A man has died in China after his mobile phone reportedly exploded in his chest pocket. Metal welder, Xiao Jinpeng was working at the Yingpan Iron Ore Dressing Plant in the western province of Gansu, when reports say his mobile phone suddenly exploded. He died later in a local hospital.

The handset was a Motorola brand, and the official Xinhua News Agency reports citing a spokesperson for the company said that the company doubted its own components were to blame, suggesting that a fake battery may have been used. In most previous cases of exploding mobile phones, investigations have found the batteries to be poor quality copies, not original manufacturer supplied units.

“We are aware of an accident that occurred in Gansu at a welding operation,” said a spokesman for Motorola in Beijing, “Up to now, preliminary evidence suggests it is highly unlikely that a cell phone caused this accident. We are working with the Chinese authorities to determine and investigate the root cause.”

The force of the phone explosion broke Mr Jinpeng’s ribs, and fragments of bone pierced his heart.