Drowning For Cellphones

A disturbing headline from the technology sector:

N.C. Teen, Wis. Man Drown in Separate Accidents Retrieving Cell Phones

DURHAM, N.C. — A teenager drowned after jumping into a lake to get a cell phone he dropped during a fishing trip.

The teen, Eddie Allen, 16, of Durham, was fishing Wednesday in Falls Lake with Garrick McCollum, 24. McCollum jumped in after Allen and started struggling. Another fisherman helped McCollum, but couldn't help Allen.

Witnesses said Allen tried to climb a concrete embankment at the fishing area but couldn't get out because it was slick with algae.

Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison said he believes the drowning was accidental.

Also Wednesday, a 41-year-old man drowned in Sheboygan, Wis., after getting stuck in a storm sewer trying to retrieve a cell phone, police said.

The man weighed more that 300 pounds and was wedged with his head and shoulders underwater in a vertical storm drain in front of his home, said police Lt. Tim Eirich.

Neighbor Chris Van Erem said he saw the man kneeling over the sewer before he fell in. Police said the man pulled the iron gate off trying to get the cell phone.

Here's a word to the not-so-wise: Cellphones are full of electronics which are basically useless once you immerse them in lakes and sewers. Just walk away and go get another one.