Hospital Evacuated After Man Admits to Unusual Injury

A hospital in Toulouse, France, was evacuated on Saturday after a 24-year-old man arrived with a rather peculiar issue—an 8-inch artillery shell lodged in his rectum, as reported by various news sources.

The man, whose identity hasn’t been disclosed, went to the Langueil emergency department complaining of “extreme discomfort.” Medical staff quickly performed emergency surgery to remove the shell, which turned out to be a 37mm artillery shell from World War I. Thankfully, it was later confirmed to be demilitarized, according to a report.

A source close to the investigation shared that, due to the nature of the object, the surgeon removed it and then contacted the police. Since the shell posed no immediate danger, it seems unlikely that the man will face any legal repercussions.

Toulouse prosecutor David Charmatz commented on the incident, stating that there was no criminal offense involved, so no prosecution would occur. However, the circumstances behind how the shell ended up in this situation remain unclear.

This specific type of shell is frequently discovered during what is colloquially referred to as the “Iron Harvest,” where old munitions are unearthed during agricultural activities or construction work. Such discoveries are not uncommon; in fact, just last year, a 160-year-old shell was found near Little Round Top, a significant site from the Civil War. And even in more recent years, unexploded ordnance has been found in various locations, including under a parking lot at the Fukushima nuclear plant in 2017.

Overall, while the situation is undoubtedly bizarre, it’s a reminder of the lingering effects of past conflicts and the unexpected encounters they can bring about in modern life.