A primary school boy was taken to hospital after taking part in a TikTok challenge with tiny magnets, a Facebook post has revealed. Borestone Primary School in Stirling has shared a post informing parents of the dangers of such challenges after the boy, 9, had to undergo a “serious life-changing operation”.
9-year-old boy nearly dies after swallowing magnets over bizarre TikTok challenge
His mother has informed the school of the incident and wanted his story to be known to alert other parents of the potential dangers of the new social media trend.
The challenge involves placing two small magnetic balls on either side of the tongue to make it look like a tongue piercing. The balls move to give the illusion that it is real.
The mother, Carolann, explained how her son was admitted to the hospital after experiencing pain in his abdomen and uncontrollable vomiting last Tuesday.
The next day, after being admitted to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, X-rays showed that he had small pieces of metal blocking his intestines. Upon inspection, it was discovered that they were actually magnets.
“It was quickly discovered that they were magnets and, after some digging to find out the truth, Jack admitted that he had swallowed them,” Carolann said.
The next day, doctors spoke with Carolann to inform her that the matter was urgent. She was given three possibilities for surgical intervention, one of which involved removing the magnets and intestines and, depending on the severity of the damage, placing a stoma bag.
Carolann was warned that the extent of the damage could be catastrophic and that the operation was complicated and she might not recover. She was told to be prepared because anything could happen and was asked to sign her consent “in tears.”
Carolann has called on the school to educate children about the dangers of these challenges, which can all too easily lead to life-changing injuries and death.
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