A 12-year-old boy from northern Israel underwent emergency surgery at Bnei Zion Medical Center in Haifa last week after swallowing eight small magnetic balls—an incident doctors warn could have turned deadly, doctors said on Tuesday.
The child arrived at the hospital suffering from persistent abdominal pain and repeated vomiting. When his symptoms failed to improve, doctors at the pediatric surgery department admitted him for observation.
Only later did a crucial detail come to light. While speaking with a friend by phone during his hospital stay, the boy recalled having played with small magnetic balls in the days before falling ill — and admitted to swallowing them. Shockingly, he said he repeated the act the following day.
Once informed, the hospital staff moved swiftly. “Upon learning of the new detail, the medical team at the Pediatric Surgery Department acted quickly,” said Bnei Zion Pediatric Department Director Dr. Lili Hayari. “The child was rushed for emergency surgery, in view of the serious danger arising from swallowing magnets.”