Magnets in the Belly: A Risky Swallowing Incident

A young boy in New Zealand found himself in serious trouble after swallowing a bunch of tiny, super-strong magnets. These weren't your average fridge magnets; they were powerful neodymium magnets, often sold as desk toys for adults. The boy, just 13 years old, ended up in the hospital with severe stomach pain after swallowing around 80 to 100 of these magnets. Inside his body, the magnets stuck together in chains, causing damage to his intestines. Doctors had to perform surgery to remove the magnets and repair the harm they had done. This isn't just a one-off story. Magnets like these can be dangerous if swallowed, especially by kids. New Zealand has known about this risk for years and banned the sale of these small, high-powered magnets back in 2013. The idea was to protect children from accidentally swallowing them while playing. However, even with the ban, these magnets are still easy to get, especially online. The boy in this case bought them from an online marketplace. The problem is that these online stores make it simple for anyone, including kids, to buy things without much checking. The magnets might come with warnings, but that doesn't always stop curious kids from playing with them. The online store where the magnets were bought says they take safety seriously and are looking into the issue. They plan to remove any unsafe products and take action against sellers who break the rules. This whole situation shows how tricky it can be to keep kids safe from harmful products, especially when they can be bought so easily online. It's a reminder for parents and caregivers to be aware of what kids might get their hands on, even if it's something as small as a magnet.