Young boy treated in hospital after squishy toy explodes in his face at Royal Adelaide Show

A young boy has been rushed to hospital after a squishy toy exploded in his face at the Royal Adelaide Show, leaving him vomiting, coughing and struggling to breathe.

The incident happened on Friday during what was meant to be a fun family day out when ten-year-old Mason was playing with a toy at a stall and it burst.

His mother Amanda has issued an urgent warning to other parents, saying the substance inside the toy made Mason instantly sick — and she still doesn’t know what it was.

Mason was treated in hospital but is still coughing, and his mum is taking him back today for X‑rays in case the substance has entered his lungs.

“He was choking on it. Finding it hard to breathe, constantly coughing, a little bit wheezy.

“I’m extremely concerned because if they can’t tell you what the ingredient is, then they shouldn’t be selling them.”

Amanda says the stall owner couldn’t provide packaging or a product code — and she still has no idea what was inside the toy.

She fears it may have been a counterfeit version, with more look‑alike products appearing across the country.

Experts have previously warned that inferior versions could expose children to dangerous chemicals.

In August, Australian Border Force has been tasked with seizing counterfeit versions of wildly popular squishy toys amid growing concerns over the safety of fake products flooding the market.

NeeDoh manufacturer Schylling has requested the intervention as dupes of the highly sought-after toys continue to multiply across Australia.

The concern extends beyond protecting the company’s intellectual property, with the materials used in counterfeit products largely unknown and fears they could pose a risk to children if the toys split or burst.