A Frenchman hospitalized after inserting a WWI-era artillery shell into his rectum required emergency surgery and explosive disposal.

A 24-year-old Frenchman was hospitalized in Toulouse after inserting an 8-inch-long, unexploded German WWI-era 37mm artillery shell into his rectum, causing severe pain and requiring emergency surgery. Medical staff were shocked by the discovery, prompting an evacuation and the deployment of an explosive ordnance disposal team. The inert shell was safely defused and removed, highlighting the ongoing dangers of unexploded munitions in France, where annual "iron harvest" efforts clear remnants from World War I. This follows a similar 2022 case involving an elderly man. Authorities are considering legal action for handling category A explosives. The man is expected to recover physically, though psychological effects are unknown.