A 13‑year‑old boy in New Zealand who swallowed 80‑100 neodymium magnets purchased online developed fatal intestinal clusters, prompting emergency surgery after four days of severe abdominal pain.
Dangerous Online Purchase
Doctors determined the teenager ordered the magnets from a popular Chinese e‑commerce site where the set was promoted as a children’s toy. The boy swallowed an estimated 80 to 100 small magnets, each about 5 × 2 mm in size, that began attracting and linking together in his digestive tract. This led to significant intestinal damage. Parents only brought him to hospital after four days of intense abdominal pain.
Shocking Diagnosis and Dramatic Surgery
Imaging revealed the magnets had formed four tight stacks, causing tissue necrosis in the intestines. Surgeons urgently operated, removing pieces of both small and large intestine. Although the operation succeeded, doctors warned of possible long‑term complications such as bowel obstruction or chronic abdominal pain. Experts from the University of California, Davis, stated such cases can even prove fatal.
Ineffective Ban
New Zealand banned neodymium magnets in 2013, yet they remain readily available online. The platform where the boy made his purchase has opened an internal investigation. Experts urge parents to monitor children’s online shopping more closely, emphasizing that all purchases should be made or supervised by adults.