Recent events have drawn attention to a worrying trend in online purchasing, as a 13-year-old boy from New Zealand was hospitalized after swallowing as many as 100 tiny magnets.
According to a detailed report published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, the incident occurred when the youth, who had been suffering from persistent stomach pain for four days, was rushed to Tauranga Hospital. The boy had ingested between 80 and 100 of these magnets, each roughly 5 millimeters in size. The report indicates that the widespread availability of these magnets, often purchased from online marketplaces at lower prices, is contributing to a growing problem among children, highlighting the urgent need for better oversight and regulation.
The medical team at the hospital conducted an X-ray which revealed four chains of magnets lodged inside the boy’s abdomen before surgeons proceeded with an operation. The procedure involved the removal of the magnets along with the damaged sections of his intestines. Despite the severity of the situation, the boy was eventually released from the hospital after eight days in treatment. Medical professionals have emphasized that such ingested magnets can lead to life-threatening conditions, which often necessitate complex surgical interventions with potential long-term effects.
In an effort to address these dangers, both New Zealand and Australia have outlawed the sale of small high-powered magnets. However, the challenge of enforcing these bans remains significant, particularly when it comes to regulating online platforms. In this instance, the magnets were reportedly purchased from the online marketplace Temu, which has since responded to the incident by stating they are investigating and have contacted the report authors for further information. The Temu representative assured that the company takes product safety seriously and is actively reviewing relevant listings to ensure compliance with local regulations, with non-compliant products being promptly removed from the platform.