A hospital in Toulouse, France, was temporarily evacuated after doctors discovered an unexploded World War I artillery shell inside a patient during emergency treatment.
According to The Sun, the incident unfolded late on Saturday night when a 24-year-old man arrived at Rangueil University Hospital complaining of abdominal pain. Routine medical examinations and imaging soon revealed that the object lodged inside his body was a historic military shell believed to date back to 1918.
Once the discovery was confirmed, hospital authorities immediately activated emergency safety protocols. Sections of the hospital, including the emergency department, were evacuated as a precaution, and a security perimeter was established around the building.
A hospital staff member, speaking anonymously to local French outlet La Dépêche du Midi, said the situation escalated rapidly once the nature of the object became clear.
“They discovered it, and they called the bomb disposal team,” the source said.
Emergency services, including bomb disposal experts and firefighters, were deployed to assess the risk posed by the shell, which doctors feared could still be unstable despite its age.
Medical teams reportedly proceeded with extreme caution during the removal process to avoid triggering a detonation. After a meticulous operation, the device was later declared inactive, allowing evacuated areas of the hospital to reopen and normal services to resume.
Authorities then confirmed that no injuries were reported beyond the patient’s initial medical condition.
Local media also reported that the patient admitted to the hospital staff that he had inserted the object himself, though officials have not disclosed further details about the circumstances or his motive.
French prosecutors are now reviewing the case to determine whether charges should be filed against the man for the illegal possession of prohibited weapons.
Under French law, unexploded military munitions fall under the most serious category of restricted arms, regardless of their age or condition.
While the incident is highly unusual, authorities noted that unexploded ordnance from both World War I and World War II continues to be found across parts of France, particularly in former battle zones.
This seasonal phenomenon, commonly referred to as the “Iron Harvest,” sees farmers and construction workers uncover shells, grenades, and other munitions left behind more than a century ago.
The hospital has since confirmed that all safety protocols were followed and that operations have fully returned to normal.