Doctors at a hospital in southern France were forced to evacuate an emergency ward and call in bomb disposal experts after discovering a live World War I artillery shell lodged inside a young man’s rectum. The extraordinary case, which unfolded late last week, combined a medical emergency with a full-scale security response—and is now likely to end in legal trouble for the patient.

The incident took place in Toulouse, where hospital staff initially treated what appeared to be a routine case of abdominal discomfort. What they found instead set off alarms far beyond the operating room.

What happened at the Toulouse hospital?

The man, a 24-year-old French national, arrived at the emergency department complaining of severe discomfort. According to investigators, he told doctors that he had inserted a large object into his rectum and was unable to remove it.

During examination and subsequent emergency surgery, doctors discovered that the object was not just large, but potentially deadly.

The item was identified as a live World War I-era artillery shell, dating back to 1918. The shell measured roughly eight inches in length and about an inch in diameter.

Once the nature of the object became clear, hospital staff immediately escalated the situation.

Why was the hospital evacuated

Because the shell was believed to be live and unexploded, authorities treated it as an active explosive threat.

Following the surgery:

• Parts of the accident and emergency unit were evacuated
• The area was cordoned off
• A bomb disposal squad was called in
• Fire brigade teams were placed on standby

The shell was later secured and rendered safe by explosives experts. Officials confirmed that the device did not detonate at any point, avoiding what could have been a catastrophic outcome.

The incident occurred at the Rangueil Accident and Emergency unit in Toulouse, according to local reports.

What kind of shell was it?

Local and international media reports say the shell was manufactured in 1918 and used during World War I, most likely by the Imperial German Army.

Such unexploded munitions are not uncommon in parts of France, particularly in regions that saw heavy fighting during the war. Even more than a century later, farmers and construction workers regularly uncover dormant shells in fields and old battle zones.

However, authorities stressed that possession or handling of live wartime munitions remains illegal, regardless of how old they are.

Possible legal consequences for the man

French prosecutors have indicated that the man could face legal action for handling prohibited weapons.

Under French law, live artillery shells are classified as “category A munitions,” the most restricted class of weapons. Unauthorized possession—even without malicious intent—can lead to serious criminal charges.

Police are expected to question the man once medical staff confirm he is fit to be interviewed.

How did the shell end up there?

Officials have not publicly confirmed how the shell came to be lodged in the man’s body. However, local media outlets have suggested it may have been linked to sexual activity.

According to La Dépêche, medical staff in Toulouse are accustomed to treating injuries resulting from sexual experimentation. A source quoted by the paper said such cases, while unusual, are not unheard of in emergency medicine.

The hospital has not commented on those claims, citing patient confidentiality.

This is not an isolated incident

As bizarre as the case may sound, it is not without precedent.

In 2022, an 88-year-old French man was hospitalized after inserting a World War I-era explosive into his anus. That case also required the intervention of bomb disposal experts amid fears that the device could detonate.

According to reporting by the Daily Mail, the elderly man had allegedly inserted the object as part of a sexual act. He survived without the device exploding.

These incidents underscore a strange but real intersection of unexploded wartime ordnance and modern emergency medicine in parts of Europe.

Why this story matters

Beyond the shock value, the incident highlights two serious realities.

First, unexploded World War I munitions remain widespread in France more than a century after the conflict ended—and they are still dangerous.

Second, hospitals and emergency responders are increasingly required to manage situations that blend medical risk with public safety threats. In this case, doctors not only saved a patient but also prevented a potential mass-casualty event.

For authorities, the episode also raises questions about how such dangerous artifacts continue to circulate outside controlled environments.

The bottom line

A routine hospital visit in Toulouse turned into a bomb scare after doctors discovered a live WWI artillery shell lodged inside a patient. Swift medical intervention and coordinated emergency response prevented disaster, but the man now faces possible prosecution for possessing illegal munitions.

The case may be extreme, but it serves as a reminder that history’s weapons are still very much part of the present—and can surface in the most unexpected, and unsettling ways.