Sony PSP News

Melting PSP burns Michigan schoolboy

By Stevie Smith Feb 7, 2008, 8:12 GMT

The Sony PlayStation Portable is back in the news again this week after a 12-year-old Michigan boy was injured when the PSP console in his trouser pocket suddenly overheated, burning through his pants and leaving him with severe burns on his leg.

According to reports, young Harold Clay was attending band class at Warner Middle School in Farmington Hill yesterday morning when he felt an abrupt rush of heat from the PSP console stowed in his trouser pocket.“It was unbelievable, because it wasn't on. It was just in his pocket,” explained Harold Clay senior regarding the incident, which would perhaps point to a fault with the console’s chargeable battery pack. Harold’s mother described that her son had always been taught that in the event of fire, he should fall to the ground and roll, which he did upon feeling the sudden rush of heat while a concerned teacher successfully removed the burning console from his person.With the Farmington Hills fire service responding to the emergency, Harold was then transferred to the local hospital, where he was treated for second-degree burns to the leg.Somewhat ironically, one report claims that the game disc inserted into the PlayStation Portable at the time of Harold’s unfortunate accident was street-racing title Burnout.Harold’s parents have said they will be contacting Sony concerning the overheating of their son’s console.On Sony’s official Web site, the Japanese electronics giant clearly advises customers to use only genuine Sony PSP battery packs in their consoles, warning that use of other third-party products could potentially lead to overheating, fire, or even explosions.It has not yet been ascertained whether Harold’s PlayStation Portable was equipped with a first-party Sony battery or some other third-party make.In related news, two Florida teens were charged this week with second-degree felony murder following a brutal attempt to steal a PlayStation Portable from 17-year-old student James Felton-Maitland. After receiving a physical beating, during which time he did not relinquish his PSP, Felton Maitland managed to escape his attackers, who then pursued him onto a busy street. Tragically the young man was struck by a heavy goods vehicle and died later in a local hospital.

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Melting PSP burns Michigan schoolboy

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