A HEARTBROKEN family are urging parents to dispose of the tiny magnetic balls used as 'fake tongue piercings' in a viral TikTok trend - after their 11-year-old was left in a 'serious condition' from swallowing them.
Ellis Tripp was rushed to hospital after complaining of stomach pains, surgeons then made the 'horrific discovery' that the magnetic balls were inside his intestines and bowel.
His family say the Nunnery Wood High School pupil 'is fighting for his life'.
Sue Davies, Ellis's grandmother said: "Ellis was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital on Wednesday (May 19) for emergency surgery for what was thought to be a burst appendix after a week of being poorly and then significantly getting worse.
"Things took a turn whilst in theatre - Peritonitis a serious infection was confirmed but his appendix was fine, which caused confusion. Then the surgeons had to go searching. Internal damage was found to his intestines and bowel.
"During the keyhole surgery the tiny magnets popped through the bowel and attached to the operating equipment.
SURGERY: The magnetic balls that were removed from Ellis's bowel during keyhole surgery at Worcestershire Royal Hospital
Mrs Davies said, following the operation, surgeons believed Ellis still had a number of magnets inside him.
The Worcester boy was transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital on Friday night and is due to have emergency surgery this afternoon.
His devastated grandmother said through tears: "He is seriously, seriously ill. Two major surgeries in just a few days isn't good for anybody, let alone a child. I am absolutely gutted. It has been a truly horrific experience. We didn't think this could have ever happened to us, these tiny magnetic balls have caused such damage."
Ellis's mother Amy Clarke, who has been by her son's side in hospital for days, posted this heartfelt plea on her Facebook page to warn other parents.
WARNING: Ellis' family are warning parents and schools to throw the magnetic balls away before any other children are seriously hurt
She wrote: "I’m in a nightmare. This TikTok craze could/would have killed him if left any longer. Please talk to your children and tell them how DANGEROUS THESE ARE. Magneto Beads are deadly if swallowed. They even have them in educational/childcare settings for children to play with. DESTROY THEM...!!!!!"
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