A bomb squad was called out to a hospital after an A&E patient needed help getting a World War Two artillery shell out of his rectum.
The unnamed man told Gloucestershire Royal Hospital he ‘slipped and fell’ on the 57mm piece of weaponry on Wednesday.
The shell had been apparently lying on the floor while the patient was clearing out his collection of military memorabilia.
‘He was in a considerable amount of pain,’ a military source told The Sun.
The 17cm by 6cm armour-piercing projectile was a type of shell fired from anti-tank guns in the Second World War.
They took the weapon out of the patient’s rectum but called the police in case it was still dangerous.
A police spokesperson said: ‘The item had been removed prior to police arrival and the Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team were contacted. They attended and confirmed it was not live and therefore not a danger to the public.’
The source added: ‘It was a solid shot round. It was a chunky, pointed lump of lead designed to rip through a tank’s armour.
‘It was basically an inert lump of metal, so there was no risk to life — at least not to anyone else’s.’
The shell posed a danger to the patient’s life as things could have ended tragically if it had pierced his gut.
This is the risk most objects pose when they get stuck in someone’s rectum – which is not as uncommon as some may think.
Doctors and nurses have had to remove some 3,500 objects between 2010 and 2019 – costing the NHS around £340,000 a year, more than £3 million in total.
The study from the Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust show there is a rise in cases – particularly among men.
Although the study did not list what objects were used, Metro.co.uk has reported on cases around the world with people using live eels, glass bottles, an instant coffee jar with pins in the lid, a Buzz Lightyear toy, concrete mix and an aubergine.
Researchers believe a rise in internet porn and easier access to sex toys is behind the spike in people trying new things in the bedroom.
Medical professionals advise people interested in anal sexual activity to stay away from foreign objects as it is often difficult to get them out.
Instead, people should use sex toys that are specifically designed for anal play.
Gloucestershire Royal Hospital said: ‘We can confirm that the police and Explosive Ordnance Disposal team (EOD) attended Gloucestershire Royal Hospital on Wednesday 1 December.
‘As with any incident involving munitions, the relevant safety protocols were followed to ensure that there was no risk to patients, staff or visitors at any time.’
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