A 13-year-old boy in New Zealand swallowed dozens of powerful magnets and ended up losing part of his intestines and was hospitalized, according to a recent case report published in the New Zealand Medical Journal.
The boy, who has not been identified, reportedly ate between 80 and 100 neodymium magnets, each measuring 5 mm by 2 mm.
Although the powerful magnets sold as tabletop toys for adults are small, they can be dangerous if swallowed. Its strong magnetic force can cause parts of the gastrointestinal tract to stick together, causing serious complications such as pressure necrosis, perforation and life-threatening infections, the report said. Surgery is often required, but there is a risk of long-term complications such as chronic pain.
According to the report, the boy endured abdominal pain for four days before seeking medical help. He told doctors at the hospital that he swallowed a magnet about a week ago. The report does not reveal the name of the hospital where he was treated or the reason he ate the magnet.
Scans showed that the magnets were clustered in four chains in the lower right part of the abdomen, magnetically drawing different parts of the intestines together, the report said, noting that some images were distorted by the magnets. Doctors then proceeded with an exploratory surgery.
During the surgery, surgeons discovered that the magnetic chain had caused compression necrosis (death of tissue due to prolonged pressure) in the intestine and part of the large intestine. They were able to remove the magnet, but the boy had to have part of his intestines removed. He recovered in the hospital for eight days before being discharged, the report said.
Countries such as New Zealand and Australia have permanently banned the sale of high-power magnets, but enforcement remains a challenge. The report says magnets are still widely available online at low prices and often do not require age verification.
The boy told doctors he bought the magnet from online retailer Tem. The company told CNN it cannot independently verify this claim.
“As a precautionary measure, we have reviewed the photo of the magnet published in the Journal and the listing of similar products on our platform. Currently available magnets comply with New Zealand regulations and such products are also sold at other major online retailers and physical stores,” a Temu spokesperson said.
“Although the sale of these products is legal, they can be dangerous if swallowed, so we support efforts to raise public awareness about magnet safety,” the company added.
In the United States, the Consumer Product Safety Commission introduced mandatory safety standards in 2022 that limit the magnetic force of loose or separable magnets in products designed for purposes such as entertainment and stress relief.
The agency has also issued multiple recalls for products containing dangerous magnets, which continue to be classified as safety risks.
