Toulouse, France — A French hospital was briefly evacuated this weekend after a 24‑year‑old man arrived with a World War I artillery shell lodged in a location historians agree was never intended for artillery.
Doctors at Rangueil Hospital say the man came in complaining of “severe abdominal pain,” a symptom widely associated with having a 1918 explosive device inserted into one’s rear end. Upon discovering the munition, staff immediately contacted bomb disposal experts, who confirmed the shell was indeed real, historic, and absolutely not designed for the activity it had recently been used for.
Hospital officials evacuated part of the building “out of an abundance of caution,” though witnesses report the announcement “please exit the building due to a patient with a live bomb in his butt” caused more confusion than panic.
Bomb technicians later determined the shell was unlikely to detonate, noting that “the explosive had already survived one catastrophic misuse.” The device was safely removed, and the man is recovering while preparing to explain his life choices to police.
Authorities say he may face charges for possessing a Category A munition, which includes weapons such as machine guns, grenades, and, apparently, whatever he thought this was.
French officials stressed that this is not an isolated incident. In 2022, an 88‑year‑old man in Toulon caused a similar evacuation after arriving with another WWI shell inserted in his body, suggesting France may be facing a growing public‑health crisis involving citizens treating century‑old explosives as novelty accessories.
Experts warn that antique munitions are typically discovered during agricultural work or construction, not during medical imaging. They advise the public to remember that WWI artillery shells are dangerous, unstable, and, above all, not toys.
Police say they will question the man once he is well enough to speak, ideally without requiring the bomb squad to stand by again.
