Three-year-old girl fighting for life after swallowing a very common household item

A Hidden Danger: The Story of Millie Koski and the Crisis of Magnet Ingestion

In early July 2025, three-year-old Millie Koski from Bundaberg, Australia, was rushed to the hospital with a high fever, stomach pain, and green vomit. Within days, her condition deteriorated into a life-threatening emergency. What began as a seemingly ordinary illness turned out to be a catastrophic medical crisis caused by two small, high-powered magnets she had swallowed, on separate occasions.

A Medical Nightmare Unfolds

The magnets locked together inside Millie’s stomach, causing her bowel to leak and triggering severe infection and sepsis. Surgeons at Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane drained over a litre of pus from her body and removed most of her bowel. Millie was placed in an induced coma and put on life support, with doctors warning her parents, Emily and Luke, that survival was uncertain.

She now faces multiple surgeries to reattach her bowel and will spend months in intensive care. Her parents have put their lives on hold to remain by her side, far from their home and other children.

A Family’s Plea and a Community’s Response

A GoFundMe campaign launched by family friends has rallied support for Millie’s family, covering mounting expenses and raising awareness about the dangers of high-powered magnets. The fundraiser emphasizes that these magnets, though banned in Australia and New Zealand, are still accessible online and in imported products.

“Magnets are not toys, and parents everywhere deserve to know how dangerous they can be,” the campaign states. “If this message reaches just one other family and prevents another child from going through what Millie has, then some good can come from this heartbreaking ordeal.”

The Bigger Picture: Essential Perspectives

Public Health and Safety

Millie’s case exposes a regulatory blind spot. Despite bans, high-powered magnets remain widely available online, often hidden in toys, jewellery, and electronics. This calls for stricter enforcement and better consumer education.

Medical and Pediatric Insight

Magnet ingestion can cause catastrophic internal damage. Symptoms may be delayed, making early diagnosis difficult. Pediatricians and emergency departments must remain vigilant.

Parental and Emotional Toll

Millie’s parents are enduring emotional trauma and financial strain. Their story reflects the vulnerability of families during medical crises and the importance of community support.

Advocacy and Awareness

This incident has sparked a grassroots campaign to educate families and push for policy changes. It’s a call to action for manufacturers, regulators, and caregivers alike.

Societal Responsibility

The story raises ethical questions about corporate accountability and the global marketplace’s role in protecting children from hazardous products.

Millie’s journey is far from over, but her story is already making an impact. It’s a sobering reminder that even the smallest objects can pose the gravest threats, and that awareness, advocacy, and compassion can save lives.