A dangerous TikTok trend where teenagers put tiny magnets into their mouth has sparked calls from the NHS to ban the toys after dozens of children ended up in hospital.
The craze sees young people placing the small beads on their tongue to create the impression that they have a tongue piercing - but the balls can easily be swallowed.
Ingesting more than one magnet poses a risk of serious damage as the two pieces can attract each other inside the body and block intestines or bowels.
At least 65 children in England have needed life-saving surgery after swallowing magnets over the past three years.
Health officials have warned that there has been a spike in hospital admissions in older children as some have been taking part in the trend.
It led the NHS to issue a patient safety warning earlier this month, and the service is now pushing for a full-on ban on some of the toys.
The news comes after 11-year-old Ellis Tripp was left fighting for his life after he swallowed several magnets last week.
His mum Amy Clarke, 31, made a heartfelt plea urging other parents to get rid of the toys, branding them "deadly".
She posted on Facebook : "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.!!!!!"
Doctors said he was the fifth youngster in just one week they have treated for swallowing magnets, reports his family.
And Ellis's school found other pupils with the magnets in their possession during a search, suspected to be linked to the TikTok trend.
The prank sees children place two magnetic balls on either side of their tongue and wiggle it around, creating the illusion of a permanent piercing.
A 13-year-old girl is also understood to have had major surgery after trying out the social media craze.
Her mum, Faye Elizabeth, said she had swallowed 15 of the tiny beads, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Health officials have now stressed that the toys are dangerous and said their sale should be banned.
Professor Simon Kenny, NHS England national clinical director for children and young people, said: "Magnets are a source of fascination for children, and magnetic toys can look like a cheap and cheerful way of occupying the kids, but ultimately they aren't safe and shouldn't be for sale."
