A 13-year-old teenager required extensive surgery after ingesting approximately 100 high-powered magnets that he purchased online. Doctors in New Zealand had to operate on the boy, removing part of his intestines due to severe abdominal pain caused by the magnets forming strips inside his digestive system.
The incident led to the boy enduring significant discomfort for four days before being taken to Tauranga hospital on New Zealand’s North Island. Medical reports indicated that the powerful neodymium magnets, banned in New Zealand since 2013, were acquired from the online marketplace Temu. The magnets had magnetized, forming four long strips that caused tissue death in the boy’s intestines.
Following surgery to extract the magnets and necrotic tissue, the boy recovered and was discharged after eight days in the hospital. Surgeons addressed the complications caused by the magnets adhering to the intestinal walls. The medical team highlighted the risks of magnet ingestion and the perils of online platforms for children.
Temu expressed regret over the incident and initiated an internal review to ensure compliance with safety regulations in New Zealand. The company stated that it was investigating the specific product listing related to the magnets involved in the case. The incident underscores concerns about online marketplaces facilitating access to hazardous items, emphasizing the need for stringent safety measures in e-commerce platforms.