A quiet night at a hospital in Toulouse took a sharp turn when a 24‑year‑old man arrived complaining of severe abdominal discomfort. Doctors investigating the cause discovered an object lodged internally, which turned out to be a World War I artillery shell roughly eight inches long. Reports from multiple outlets note that the munition, although aged more than a century, was still considered dangerous enough to prompt immediate safety protocols.
Medical staff quickly evacuated parts of the building as a precaution while security teams assessed the risk. An explosive ordnance disposal unit was called in to determine the stability of the shell, which some reports described as unexploded at the time it was removed. Their assessment allowed hospital operations to resume once the area was confirmed safe.
Specialists from both medical and military backgrounds coordinated to remove the object safely, ensuring the patient remained stable throughout. According to detailed accounts from coverage in Europe, the case brought together surgeons, emergency responders, and bomb specialists in an unusual late‑night collaboration.
While the patient was treated without major complications, the incident left hospital staff and emergency crews astonished. Outlets reporting on the event highlighted the uncommon nature of discovering a century‑old battlefield relic inside a young man, with one source noting the shell dated back to 1918.
Authorities have not released further information on how the object ended up inside the patient, though the situation has quickly circulated across European and international media. Despite the alarming discovery, the hospital returned to normal operations shortly after the shell was safely removed and inspected.
