French Hospital Evacuated After 8-Inch WWI Shell Discovered In 24-Year-Old's Rectum
A 24-year-old man arrived at Rangueil Hospital in Toulouse with an unexploded 1918 artillery shell lodged in his rectum, leading to evacuation and bomb disposal intervention.
A routine emergency room visit turned into a bomb scare this weekend when medical staff at Rangueil Hospital in Toulouse discovered a live World War I artillery shell lodged inside a patient’s rectum, prompting the evacuation of parts of the hospital and the deployment of bomb disposal experts.
The 24-year-old French man arrived at the Rangueil Accident and Emergency unit late on the night of January 31, 2026, complaining of severe rectal pain after inserting an object into his anus. During emergency medical examination, surgeons encountered a mysterious metallic item deep inside his rectum and began to remove it when they realised it was an actual artillery shell dating back to 1918, the final year of the First World War.
Upon identifying the object as a live — albeit aged — WWI artillery shell measuring roughly eight inches (about 20 cm) long and over three centimetres in diameter, hospital staff halted the surgical procedure and activated safety protocols. Because of the potential risk of detonation, authorities evacuated patients and staff from surrounding areas of the hospital, established a security perimeter, and called in specialised explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams and local firefighters.
Also Read: Viral Clip Reveals Plastic in Elephant Dung in Karnataka's Shola Forests
Bomb disposal experts inspected the munition and determined that the century-old shell posed no immediate explosion threat. Once the scene was secured, surgeons completed the extraction, and the patient remained in the hospital to recover from the procedure.
French authorities are investigating how the shell came into the man’s possession and the circumstances that led to its insertion. Under French law concerning “Category A ammunition,” which covers explosive devices with high destructive potential, prosecutors may pursue legal action depending on the findings.
While extraordinary, this is not the first time unexploded ordnance from the First World War has surfaced unexpectedly in France. The country routinely uncovers buried munitions during agricultural work and construction — a phenomenon known as the “Iron Harvest.” There have also been prior reports of patients presenting with centuries-old artillery shells lodged in their bodies, including a similar case in 2022 involving an octogenarian in Toulon.
The bizarre incident highlights both public safety challenges associated with historic unexploded ordnance and the range of unique situations emergency responders can encounter.
Also Read: SEBI Announces Grade A Assistant Manager Phase 1 Result 2026
