Boy undergoes major surgery after swallowing up to 100 magnets

Friday 24 October 2025 · 4 outlets · 3 reports · updated Fri 24 Oct 2025, 10:38am

In this story New Zealand Medical Journal

A 13-year-old boy required emergency surgery at Tauranga Hospital, where surgeons removed part of his bowel. The boy had ingested between 80 and 100 small neodymium magnets purchased from the online marketplace Temu. Doctors have issued warnings regarding the availability of these banned items online.

How they headlined it

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12:01am6:35am10:38am

1. StuffFri 24 Oct 2025, 12:01am

   Boy’s emergency surgery after swallowing up to 100 magnets (opens in new tab)

2. NZ HeraldFri 24 Oct 2025, 6:35am

   13-year-old has major surgery after eating 100 magnets bought on Temu (opens in new tab)

   Also on RNZ (opens in new tab)

3. 1News via RNZFri 24 Oct 2025, 10:38am

   Boy, 13, has major surgery after eating up to 100 magnets (opens in new tab)