Doctors are warning of a potential ‘fire in the hole’ situation after having to surgically remove a can of deodorant lodged inside their patient’s rectum.

Recounting the tale in BMJ Case Reports, they cautioned the extremely rare foreign body could pose a serious safety hazard in the surgical setting.

The 21-year-old man had presented to them with a one-day history of abdominal pain but no signs or symptoms of peritonitis.

He reported that “two unknown people” had inserted the aerosolised deodorant spray can into his rectum while he was under the influence of alcohol.