Man hospitalised after 8-inch World War I shell found in rectum, bomb squad deployed

The World War I explosive was removed surgically (Picture: Getty).

Doctors at a hospital in France were left in shock after discovering an eight-inch-long live World War I artillery shell in a man’s rectum, prompting an immediate evacuation. Following the surgery, specialised bomb disposal teams were called to defuse the explosive, with the brigade on standby in case of emergency.

According to the authorities, the 24-year-old man will face legal proceedings for "category A munitions".  The incident occurred at the Rangueil Accident and Emergency unit in Toulouse, after the man arrived complaining of discomfort.

Authorities said the man had inserted a large object in his rectum. Due to intense pain, doctors performed emergency surgery.

Doctors discovered that the object was an artillery shell from the First World War, causing panic among the staff, and patients had to be evacuated. The accident and emergency unit was sealed off as the bomb disposal squad neutralised the shell.

According to officials, the shell from 1918 measured nearly eight inches in length and about an inch in width. Prosecutors said the French national will be questioned for handling the live shell and could face legal consequences.

Authorities have not confirmed how the shell ended up inside the man’s body. However, local media reports suggest the man may have been involved in sexual activity, and Toulouse medical staff regularly treat patients injured during sexual games.

According to the Daily Mail, the shell that was removed was used by the Imperial German Army during the First World War. Shells from 1914 and 1918 carry manufacturing dates and are common in the region.

While the case is bizarre, it's not the first case of its kind. In 2022, an 88-year-old man in France similarly had a World War I explosive stuck in his rectum. Bomb disposal squads were deployed after staff feared it could explode inside him. Report suggests the elderly man had y inserted the bomb as part of a sexual activity.