A 13-year-old boy in New Zealand had to undergo surgery after swallowing between 80 and 100 neodymium magnets that he reportedly acquired from the e-commerce platform Temu. Following four days of intense abdominal pain, he was admitted to Tauranga Hospital on the North Island.
According to a report in the New Zealand Medical Journal, the magnets, each measuring 5×2 mm, were ingested about a week prior to his hospitalization. These neodymium magnets have been banned in New Zealand since January 2013 due to safety concerns.
Medical imaging conducted at the hospital revealed that the magnets had formed four straight lines within the boy”s intestines. The report noted that they appeared to be aligned in separate sections of the bowel, adhering together because of magnetic forces.
The pressure exerted by the magnets resulted in necrosis, or tissue death, in several areas of the small intestine and the cecum, which is part of the large intestine. Surgeons were able to successfully remove the damaged tissue and extract the magnets.
After an eight-day stay in the hospital, the boy was discharged. In response to the incident, Temu issued a statement expressing concern and stating, “We are sorry to learn of the boy”s surgery.” The company also mentioned that it has initiated an internal review and reached out to the authors of the New Zealand Medical Journal report for further information.
