Hospital Evacuated After Man Shows Up with WWI Bomb Shoved up Rectum

Doctors at a hospital in southern France were forced to call in the bomb squad after making an absolutely jaw-dropping discovery during a medical exam — a live World War I artillery shell lodged inside a patient.

According to local reports, the incident unfolded late Saturday at Rangueil Hospital in Toulouse, when a 24-year-old man arrived at the emergency room in what officials described as a state of extreme discomfort. While examining the patient, stunned doctors discovered a military-grade projectile dating back to 1918 lodged in his rectum.

The shell reportedly measured about six inches long and more than an inch wide — and even more alarming, it had not detonated.

Once surgeons realized the artillery shell was real and potentially explosive, hospital officials ordered an immediate evacuation. Patients and staff were rushed out as firefighters and a bomb disposal unit secured the building and established a safety perimeter around the facility.

The man, who has not been publicly identified, reportedly told doctors he was experiencing pain but did not explain how the century-old weapon ended up inside his body. Further medical imaging revealed the full extent of the situation, prompting emergency safety protocols.

Bomb disposal experts later confirmed the shell was still live, heightening concerns it could explode. After careful handling, the situation was eventually declared safe and normal operations resumed.

French outlet Actu Toulouse reported that authorities are now considering a criminal investigation. The man could face possible legal consequences under French weapons laws, which strictly prohibit the possession or transport of explosive devices — regardless of intent.

Article L2353-13 of the French Defence Code states that illegally possessing or transporting explosive materials is punishable under national law.

Officials have not confirmed whether charges will be filed, but police are said to be reviewing the incident. The patient remains hospitalized.

While the circumstances surrounding how the shell ended up inside the man have not been officially explained, local newspaper La Dépêche reported that doctors in Toulouse are accustomed to treating injuries related to sexual experimentation.

As shocking as the situation sounds, it’s far from unique. A 2025 study published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine estimated that nearly 39,000 emergency room visits each year in the U.S. involve rectal foreign bodies. The majority of patients are middle-aged men, with more than half of cases involving sex toys — though officials say they’ve seen far stranger items over the years.

In this case, however, few could have predicted a piece of World War I history would bring a modern hospital to a complete standstill.

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