Apple promised they will probe into the death of a woman who supposedly died because of her iPhone 5. The woman died while she was charging her phone at home. Initial reports indicate death was due to electric shock.

"We are deeply saddened to learn of this tragic incident and offer our condolences to the ... family. We will fully investigate and co-operate with authorities in this matter," South China Morning Post quoted a spokesperson from the company.

Media reports from the mainland identify the victim as Ma Ailun, a 23-year-old flight attendant with China Southern Airlines. Ms Ailun picked up her iPhone 5 to answer a phone call. She was charging the phone before her death.

Ailun was in her home in Xinjiang when she died on Thursday. Following her death, safety concerns about the popular phone started pouring.

Yuelun, Ma's brother, told Apple Daily that their family strongly believes her death was due to electric shock while she was charging her phone. He also said they already handed the iPhone along with its accessories to the Xinjiang police for further investigation.

Weibo, a microblogging site, experienced a surge of posts encouraging users of iPhone 5 not to use their phones while charging. Posts specifically tell users to avoid making phone calls while they charge their phone. Hongkong experts also emphasized it is best not to use any electrical device while plugged in.

"There is a risk using an electrical device while its installed battery is being charged, be it a shaver or a phone," Hong Kong University of Science and Technology professor Johnny Sin Kin-on said.