A routine hospital visit took a terrifying turn in Toulouse, France, over the weekend. What began as a complaint of severe abdominal pain quickly escalated into a full-scale emergency when doctors discovered the source: a First World War artillery shell lodged within a patient’s rectum.
The 24-year-old man arrived at Rangueil Hospital late Saturday night, suffering intense discomfort. Initial examinations revealed the shocking truth, prompting immediate action from the medical team. Recognizing the potential danger, they made the extraordinary decision to contact the bomb disposal squad.
A security perimeter was swiftly established around the hospital, and patients were evacuated as experts cautiously approached the situation. The patient himself confessed to intentionally inserting the object, a revelation that only deepened the complexity of the unfolding crisis.
The shell, nearly 20 centimeters in length, was identified as a decommissioned piece of artillery dating back to the end of the First World War. Despite being rendered inert, the risk of accidental detonation during removal was deemed too significant to ignore, justifying the extreme precautions.
Firefighters were dispatched to provide fire protection during the delicate operation. The bomb disposal team carefully “neutralized” the explosive device, ensuring the safety of everyone within the vicinity. Details of the neutralization process remain undisclosed.
The extraction of the shell required a specialized surgical procedure. The patient remained under observation following the operation, his condition closely monitored by hospital staff. Further information regarding his recovery has not been released.
The incident, while bizarre, underscores the inherent dangers of handling even seemingly harmless historical artifacts. It serves as a stark reminder that objects from the past can still pose a threat, even in the most unexpected of circumstances.
