Harrogate's Rhys Millum, 8, "died of misadventure", says coroner
He swallowed magnetic balls which caused him to go into cardiac arrest
Last updated 1st Feb 2024
An inquest has heard how an 8 year old Harrogate boy didn’t tell anyone he’d swallowed ten magnetic balls which later caused him to go into cardiac arrest and die.
Rhys Millum's family described him today as fearless, a daredevil and a wonderful son.
His dad Andrew fought back tears as he explained how his son loved the magnetic toy and has been “messing” around with it for a month.
It was his Mum who had initially taken him to A&E with stomach pains - he was examined three times but discharged.
A few days later when he was with his dad he fell unconscious and was taken to hospital via an ambulance but died later.
Giving evidence, his mum said she believed Rhys could have been trying to follow a TikTok trend by putting the magnets on either side of his cheek to look like he had piercing.
The coroner said she hoped his death highlights to potential dangers of such toys and said her conclusion was that he died of misadventure.
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