Apple launches investigation after surfer claims iPhone 7 set his car on fire

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Apple is investigating claims that an iPhone 7 ignited a fire and caused significant damage to a car.

Australian Mat Jones was out surfing off the coast of New South Wales when the blaze started within his vehicle.

His iPhone had been wrapped in his trousers and left in his car, but on his return from the sea, noticed smoke coming from the vehicle.

“As I looked into my car you could not see inside the car, like all the windows were just black,” he told Channel 7 News.

Mr Jones was able to remove the flaming clothing from the car.

He said: “Ash was just coming from inside the pants, which then, once you wrapped open the pants the phone was just melting inside of it.”

A spokeswoman for Apple said the company was investigating the complaint. “We’re in touch with the customer and we’re looking into it,” she said.

The case echoes the recent furore over Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices, over 100 of which have begun self-combusting.

The phones were banned from air travel on some carriers, while others issued fire proof bags for them to be carried in.

After an initial recall and replacement process, the flagship device has now been permanently discontinued.