Alarming new figures show how hundreds of children are being admitted to hospital after swallowing magnets – with some of them suffering devastating lifelong complications as a result
Hundreds of children are being rushed to A&E every year after swallowing magnets, experts have warned.
Around 300 young people were hospitalised in Britain last year after consuming them, researchers found – and one in 10 of these needed urgent life-saving operations. Many among the more serious cases were left with serious medical problems, including having parts of their bowels removed, or needing a stoma. It comes amid a trend for small, magnetic parts in children’s toys, typically beads, which often superficially resemble sweets.
Once eaten, they can tear through the digestive system and into vital organs, with parents often only realising what’s happened when their child becomes ill.
Around 6% of the swallowing incidents were linked to a viral TikTok trend which involves placing magnets on a participant’s tongue to imitate a piercing.
The new figures have prompted calls for toy manufacturers and retailers to put more visible warnings on packaging so as to alert parents to the possible life-changing impacts of their children swallowing the magnets.
Professor of Paediatric Surgery Nigel Hall, who led the study, said: “These magnets have potential to harm a large number of children and young people and increase work for the NHS.
“Yet many magnetic toys provide very little warning for parents and caregivers of the dangers they pose, particularly those purchased from online marketplaces.
“Having an unplanned emergency operation is a traumatic experience for any child and their family – and needing a surgical procedure means time in hospital for days after.
“Around one in 10 of these young patients had surgery with most ending up with serious problems, like needing part of their bowel removed or requiring a stoma.”
He added that “most children who have swallowed a magnet do not show any symptoms”, meaning it was “really important that all cases have an X-ray to find out for certain.”
It comes after a coroner heard last year how eight-year-old Rhys Millum tragically died after swallowing ten silver magnets measuring 3mm each.
The objects had all stuck together in a 30mm long row in his bowel – but the cause of his illness was only revealed by a full body CT scan several days after he died.
Northallerton Coroner’s Court was told that the magnets were among a number of toys that had been given to Rhys and his brother by a family friend during a house clear-out. The boy’s mum told the court that they believed he may have watched TikTok videos before putting the magnets in his mouth.
If your child swallows a magnet, the NHS advises seeking immediate medical help by going to A&E, or calling 999 if they have symptoms like vomiting, drooling, or abdominal pain.
Small magnets and magnetic toys should always be kept out of reach of children to prevent accidents.