NZ Teen Loses Bowel After Swallowing 100 Magnets

Teenager's Dangerous Magnet Ingestion Leads to Emergency Surgery

A 13-year-old boy from New Zealand has undergone emergency surgery to remove part of his bowel after swallowing between 80 and 100 high-powered neodymium magnets. The teenager, who had been experiencing abdominal pain for four days, was admitted to Tauranga Hospital where X-rays revealed the magnets had clustered together in his digestive system, causing severe damage to his intestinal walls.

The case, detailed in the New Zealand Medical Journal, highlights the growing concern about the accessibility of dangerous magnets through online marketplaces. The magnets, measuring just 2-5 millimeters in size, were reportedly purchased from the Chinese e-commerce platform Temu.

Medical Emergency and Surgical Intervention

Doctors discovered that the magnets had formed four distinct chains within the boy's small bowel and caecum, creating pressure necrosis - a condition where tissue dies due to prolonged pressure cutting off blood supply. 'The magnets were attracting each other through the intestinal walls, causing significant damage that required immediate surgical intervention,' explained the medical team involved in the case.

Surgeons performed an exploratory laparotomy and were forced to remove the damaged section of bowel. The teenager required a nasogastric tube to bypass the obstructed digestive tract and remained hospitalized for eight days following the surgery until he could eat independently again.

Regulatory Challenges and Online Marketplace Risks

Despite New Zealand's 2014 ban on high-powered rare earth magnets, these dangerous products continue to be readily available through international online platforms. 'Despite strict legislation in New Zealand, it's alarmingly difficult to regulate these products on international platforms. This remains a serious concern,' noted the authors of the medical journal report.

Temu has responded to the incident by launching an internal investigation. In a statement to Australian media, the company stated: 'Our teams are reviewing products to ensure they meet local safety requirements.' However, Temu has not confirmed whether the magnets were actually purchased through their platform.

Global Health Concerns and Similar Cases

This incident is not isolated. In May 2025, UK doctors warned about the dangers of magnet ingestion after approximately 300 British children visited emergency departments annually due to similar incidents. About 6% of these cases were linked to social media trends where children attempted to mimic tongue piercings using small magnets.

Neodymium magnets, while useful in various technological applications, pose particular risks when swallowed. Their powerful magnetic attraction can cause them to clamp together through intestinal walls, leading to perforations, obstructions, and tissue death. Medical experts note that over 75% of magnet ingestion cases require surgical intervention.

Parental Awareness and Safety Measures

Healthcare professionals are urging parents to be vigilant about small magnetic toys and products in their homes. 'These magnets are often brightly colored and marketed as educational toys, but they can be life-threatening if swallowed,' warned a pediatric surgeon familiar with such cases.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in regulating international e-commerce and the importance of consumer awareness regarding product safety. As online shopping continues to grow globally, experts emphasize the need for stronger international cooperation in enforcing safety standards for potentially dangerous products.