A 13-year-old boy underwent significant surgical intervention after ingesting approximately 100 high-powered magnets that he had purchased online on Temu.
The incident occurred in New Zealand, where surgeons had to perform surgery to remove a portion of the boy’s intestines due to severe abdominal pain caused by the magnets he had ingested.
Following four days of intense discomfort, the teenager was admitted to Tauranga Hospital on New Zealand’s North Island. According to a report in the New Zealand Medical Journal, the boy had swallowed numerous 5x2mm neodymium magnets, which had formed into four long strips within his intestines.
These magnets, which have been prohibited in New Zealand since January 2013, were acquired from the Chinese online marketplace Temu. The magnets had adhered together, causing tissue damage and necrosis in multiple areas of the boy’s small bowel and large intestine.
After undergoing surgery to remove the magnets and damaged tissue, the boy was discharged from the hospital after an eight-day stay. Health professionals emphasized the risks associated with magnet ingestion and the potential long-term complications, including bowel obstruction and chronic pain.
Temu expressed regret over the incident and confirmed an internal investigation to ensure compliance with safety regulations in New Zealand. The e-commerce company has faced criticism in the EU for allegedly not adequately addressing illegal products on its platform.
