One-year-old baby in ‘extreme pain’ after she swallowed six magnetic balls and nearly died – as mother urges ban on ‘awful’ children’s toy

•  Araya Whateley, one, Northamptonshire was seriously ill after eating the toy
• READ MORE: Olivia was just 15 when anorexia nearly killed her. She won the battle, but later relapsed and contemplated suicide. Here, she tells her inspiring story of survival – and how one photo saved her life

A baby who accidentally swallowed magnets from a toy almost died after having to have an operation to remove them from her body. 

One-year-old Araya Whateley, from Northamptonshire, had to have part of her bowel removed during a seven-hour emergency surgery and now has a stoma bag.

The magnetic beads belonged to Araya’s nine-year-old sister Isla who got them from a classmate in a ‘school swapsie’.

Her mother Hannah, 29, had no idea Araya was ingesting the beads after Isla left them on the back seat of their car.

She only realised something was seriously wrong when Araya started throwing up on February 21.

Hannah rushed her to Northampton General Hospital where she was initially treated for gastroenteritis.

She was discharged but Araya was rushed back to A&E when she started choking in the hospital car park.

An X-ray revealed Araya had swallowed four balls which had clustered in her stomach and she transferred to Leicester Royal Infirmary.

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One-year-old Araya Whateley (pictured) almost died after swallowing six magnetic metal balls from a children’s toy

The baby was rushed into hospital for emergency surgery after swallowing metal balls from the toy

An x-ray of the baby’s stomach showed the six magnetic metal balls which were stuck inside her

Single mum Hannah is demanding a ban on the sale of the magnetic balls.

Speaking from her daughter’s hospital bed, she said: ‘I don’t want anyone to go through this, it is every parent’s worst nightmare.

‘These awful things need to be banned immediately before any other children are hospitalised.’

Hannah says she was shocked when she discovered the cause of her daughter’s illness.

She added: ‘I was panicking.

‘We were urgently transferred to Leicester Infirmary and she had surgery that morning. There were six magnets in total which were stuck together in a clump.

‘The magnets have caused Araya’s intestine to close and it killed that part of her bowel, which was starving her.

‘There was another hole that needed repairing on the other side of her intestine, which is attempting to be done using a stoma bag.

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According to Araya’s mother Hannah (pictured) ‘the magnets […] caused Araya’s intestine to close and it killed that part of her bowel, which was starving her’

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The baby’s mother added that she ‘felt sick when [she] was told and guilt that [she] wasn’t aware. It was a freak accident and [her] heart just broke for her – it’s still breaking’

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Araya Whateley, who came close to death after her accident, is pictured with her older sister Isla

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Araya started choking in the hospital car park of Northampton General Hospital (pictured)

‘At the moment the stoma bag isn’t working.

‘Everything she is eating is coming out of her stoma and she is not taking anything in. 

‘Her output is higher than her input.

‘I felt sick when I was told and guilt that I wasn’t aware. 

‘It was a freak accident and my heart just broke for her – it’s still breaking.

‘Eating causes a considerable amount of pain and I’m scared to feed her because I know she’s in extreme pain.’

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According to Araya’s mother, eating still causes her baby daughter  (pictured) some level of pain

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Araya Whateley (pictured) had to have part of her bladder removed during a seven-hour emergency surgery and now has a stoma bag

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Araya (pictured) will now have the stoma bag for a few months according to doctors, but they believe it is reversible

The stoma bag will remain for a few months and the doctors currently think it is reversible.

Araya is due to have a total parenteral nutrition (TPN) line fitted – a catheter that will deliver nutrition into her bloodstream as she has not been able to eat anything.

Hannah, a care worker, said: ‘You don’t realise the damage magnetic sculpting balls are capable of.

‘The doctor said Araya’s very lucky and he’s seen worst case scenarios over the past decade. 

‘It can cause catastrophic damage.’

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