Essex Mum warns of buying magnets online after 14 found in daughter's lifesaving surgery
Study reveals 300 children hospitalised from swallowing magnets in a single year
An Essex Mum, whose daughter had to undergo life-saving surgery after swallowing 14 magnets, warns against buying toys containing magnets.
It's after new data reveals hundreds of children have been hospitalised from swallowing them.
Two-year-old Rebecca McCarthy from Basildon was left fighting for her life in 2021 after swallowing 14 brightly coloured magnetic balls.
"The magnets were so strong they stuck together inside her body, rupturing her intestines three times" says her Mum, Sam.
Ms McCarthy tells Greatest Hits Radio: "I still find it incredibly painful to think about."
The toddler had two hours of surgery where doctors temporarily removed her intestines to reach the magnets that had buried deep into her tissue.
"We bought the magnets online from an online marketplace. I wish I knew then what I knew now. You have to be careful with what you buy online, and check it's regulated" says Sam.
The Child Accident Prevention Trust has found magnets are being sold on online marketplaces that are seventeen times stronger than the legal limit.
Its Chief Executive, Katrina Phillips OBE said: “Take great care when buying magnets. We’ve seen magnetic toys with a flux of 850, 17 times higher than the legal limit of 50.
“Take a moment to check who you’re buying from. Don’t assume that, just because you can buy something, it must be safe.”
“These super strong magnets can rip through a child’s guts and leave them with life-changing injuries. One boy has died.
Sam, from Basildon, said the first sign Rebecca was unwell was when she vomited one lunchtime.
She added: “Rebecca’s accident devastated the whole family. She had months of ongoing health issues.
“The memory will never fade. I would hate for any other child to go through what Becca suffered because of buying dangerous toys from sellers on online marketplaces.”
A study by the University of Southampton has found that around 300 children were admitted to A&E in a single year after ingesting magnets – with one in 10 requiring life-saving operations.
More than two in every 100,000 children swallow magnets each year according to the data, which was provided by 66 UK hospitals between May 2022 and April 2023.
However, that figure is likely to be far higher, according to lead author Professor of Paediatric Surgery Nigel Hall, as not all hospitals shared their data with the University team.
Doctors also revealed that children who swallow two or more magnets were at a far higher risk of long-term damage, as the pieces can clamp together in their tummy.
Professor Hall, who works at the University and Southampton Children's Hospital, said retailers must do more to increase warnings on magnetic toy labels.
“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.
The study also found that six per cent of swallowing cases were linked to viral social media trends, where the children – mostly girls - were trying to imitate tongue piercings by placing small magnets in their mouths.
The Child Accident Prevention Trust has offered five top tips for parents to help keep their children safe:
- If you have small children, don’t have small loose magnets in the house.
- Small magnetic fidget sets for adults or older children can be very dangerous for any age child if they swallow the magnets.
- Only buy magnetic toys from reputable retailers or brand names you know.
- Never buy cheap magnetic toys or products from third-party sellers on online marketplaces
- If you think your child may have swallowed magnets go straight to A&E or call an ambulance.
Rebecca McCarthey has made a full recovery, but her family say they have to remain extremely cautious in case the scars on her intestines open.