A 13-year-old boy underwent significant surgery after ingesting approximately 100 high-powered magnets purchased online. The incident occurred in New Zealand, where surgeons had to remove a portion of the boy’s intestines due to severe abdominal pain resulting from the swallowed magnets forming strips inside his body.
The teenager, whose identity remains undisclosed, was admitted to Tauranga Hospital on New Zealand’s North Island after enduring four days of distress following the ingestion of the magnets. A medical report stated that the boy confessed to swallowing around 80 to 100 5x2mm neodymium magnets a week before seeking medical help.
These magnets, known for their strength, had been banned in New Zealand since January 2013 and were acquired from the online marketplace Temu. The magnets had clustered into four strips within the boy’s intestines, causing tissue damage and pressure, leading to necrosis in multiple areas of his intestines.
The surgical team successfully removed the magnets and affected tissues, allowing the boy to be discharged after an eight-day hospital stay. The dangers of magnet ingestion and the risks associated with online marketplaces were highlighted by the medical experts involved in the case, emphasizing potential long-term complications post-surgery.
Temu expressed regret over the incident and initiated an internal review to ensure compliance with safety regulations in New Zealand. Despite challenges in identifying the specific product listing, the company is actively reviewing its listings to guarantee adherence to safety standards.
Criticism has been directed at Temu in the EU for purportedly failing to remove illegal products from its platform, prompting increased scrutiny on its product offerings.
