A four-year-old boy died days after swallowing a fridge magnet

A four-year-old boy died days after swallowing a fridge magnet.

An inquest revealed he ate a 1cm-by-1cm magnet that was on his fridge. The magnet attracted to a piece of metal it was believed he had swallowed at an earlier date. This tore a hole in his bowel, which led to acute sepsis and the heart attack that killed him.

Tragically, this isn’t an isolated incident.

300 children a year

In 2025, a study found that around 300 UK youngsters were admitted to A&E in a single year after swallowing magnets. One in 10 required life-saving operations.

A safety alert was issued by the Office of Product Safety and Standards in 2021 warning families about small, strong magnets.

Yet many families are still unaware of the dangers.

Lead author of the research and Professor of Paediatric Surgery Nigel Hall, who works at Southampton University and Southampton Children’s Hospital, said:

“As a doctor, seeing a child suffer a life-threatening accident is always distressing. When it’s an avoidable accident, it’s particularly tragic.

“That’s why warning parents and carers of the dangers that magnets pose is so important. Please help spread the message.”

Katrina Phillips OBE, Chief Executive of the Child Accident Prevention Trust, said:

“Our hearts go out to the family of this 4-year-old boy, who died after swallowing a tiny magnet from the fridge door.

“The magnet was only 1cm across. But it was so powerful, it stuck to a piece of metal inside his body and ruptured his bowel. This led to acute sepsis and the heart attack that killed him.

“If you have young children, please keep magnets safely out of their reach. Their curiosity means they can’t help but put things in their mouths.

“And, if you suspect they may have swallowed magnets, get them to hospital straight away. Don’t wait for symptoms.”

Please note: It was originally reported that he swallowed two small pink magnets.

Five tips on magnets safety

Strong magnets can rip holes through your child’s gut if swallowed. Here’s how to keep them safe:

1. Avoid small, loose magnets if you have small children.
2. Only buy magnets from reputable retailers or brand names you know.
3. Take care if buying magnets from overseas sellers on online marketplaces – there’s no way of knowing if they’re safe.
4. Teach older children to never put magnets in their mouths.
5. If you think your child may have swallowed magnets, go straight to A&E or call an ambulance. Do not wait for symptoms to show. By then, damage may have already been done.

Do you work with families?

You can help us spread the message in your communities with our free resources:

• Learn the risks and how these accidents happen so you can talk to the families you work with about the dangers
• Download, print and display our poster
• Display our digital poster on your screens
• Read and share our toy safety fact sheet
• Share our social media messages on Facebook and Instagram