Google issued an ‘imminent danger’ warning about her ‘clicking’ and ‘hissing’ electric wheelchair — 8 seconds later, horror followed
While not everything on the internet is true, sometimes it can save lives. Hollywood resident Alexandra Anaya noticed that her electric-powered wheelchair was making strange beeping noises and could feel the battery heating up. Upon Googling, she realized that she had only eight seconds to escape, as the device indicated it was in "imminent danger." Reported by NBC Miami on Monday, April 20, 2026, seconds later, the unimaginable happened, leaving her shocked.
Anaya had woken up to a strange "clicking" noise from the power wheelchair, which she had purchased from a thrift store for a family member. Since the device was equipped with a lithium battery, she had kept it charging with a non-manufacturer charger. However, the noise kept bothering her, which stopped her from going back to bed. Unable to figure out the reason, Anaya turned to Google to search for the answer. However, what Google showed made her run for her life. "It said 'imminent danger, put it on cement or somewhere where other things won't catch on fire," she told the outlet. She brought it to the driveway, and in eight seconds, it exploded.
Anaya noted that she saved her life in a matter of seconds. She was stunned by the way the wheelchair turned into a ball of fire before exploding in a way she had never seen. While the explosion did not injure her, she noted that the wheelchair hit her in the back as she ran away from it. As soon as she heard the "hissing" sound, she tried to run. Thanking the Almighty, Anaya expressed her gratitude for helping her out of a terrifying situation. She also said that the flames went as high as they could, and bringing it to the driveway was the best thing she did.
Recounting her experience, Anaya warned people against leaving devices charging unattended. The Hollywood Fire Rescue firefighters noted that people must stop using a device if they hear any "clicking" noise. They also advised people to move such devices to a non-combustible area for safety. As Anaya did, incorrect charging devices must be avoided, and batteries must not be allowed to overheat.
According to a study published in PMC, a lithium-ion battery (LIB) may experience overcharge or over-discharge when it is used beyond its capacity. The study conducted a series of experiments and found that temperature rise is particularly dangerous for such batteries. While lithium batteries are considered one of the most promising power sources, exposing them to high temperatures or overcharging can lead to electronic failure.
In Anaya's case, the device may not have had any manufacturing defects; however, leaving it charging for an extended period may have led to the explosion as reported. "Today, and have been, just being grateful out loud, talking to the big man, just thanking Him, I still have a house, I'm not homeless, and I got my sister, and we're not hurt," she said.