A Peruvian man has admitted he eats metal.
The 26-year-old construction worker - who ate the metal for months on end for no apparent reason - said he may even now do it in public "as sport".
Requelme Abanto - who was operated on after experiencing crippling stomach pains - had 1.5 pounds of metal nails, coins, rusted copper wire and scrap metal removed.
He said: "They call me the hardware store. I swallowed 17 nails in February and didn't die. Five-inch nails, all in one day."
Specialists are now examining Requelme’s mental health as he recovers.
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Last updated: 12 November 2009, 16:30
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