Bangladesh fisherman survives rare live eel intrusion and intestinal surgery

A 55‑year‑old fisherman in Bangladesh suffered a live eel entering his rectum while fishing. The eel penetrated the sigmoid colon, causing a roughly 5 cm perforation and peritonitis.

He delayed seeking care, but severe abdominal pain led him to the hospital where X‑rays revealed a foreign body and free intra‑abdominal air. Emergency laparotomy removed the still‑alive eel, repaired the colon injury and a temporary colostomy was performed.

The patient recovered and was discharged after four days. The case was documented in the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports and highlighted as an extremely rare medical incident involving a live aquatic animal causing intestinal perforation.