Toronto police found a man impaled on a sharp metal pole in a schoolyard on Friday morning.
The victim told police he was trying to escape three masked street robbers by climbing a small tree but then slipped, impaling himself in the "anal region" on the support stake, Sgt. Roger Marchack told CTV.ca.
The incident took place behind Roywood Public School, near York Mills Road and the Don Valley Parkway.
Officers arrived at the scene at about 7:30 a.m. after receiving a tip from a concerned citizen. The man told police he had been stuck for at least two hours until the passerby noticed him.
Lynn Ludford said she was going to take her dog for a walk early Friday, but heard a commotion and decided not to take the stroll.
"(There was) just a lot of running and thumping," Ludford said. "We just didn't like the sound of it."
The students were on a scheduled day off and workers at a daycare on the premises kept the children inside until emergency workers transported the man to hospital. The daycare was locked down for about an hour.
Parents taking their children to the daycare were shocked to learn of the bizarre incident.
Meanwhile, Marchack refuted earlier media reports that the man had been bound, saying he was found holding onto the tree.
The man told police his pants were down when officers found him because the alleged robbers were grabbing at his legs.
Marchack could not confirm reports the victim was taken to hospital with parts of the pole still attached. He did say the man was taken to Sunnybrook hospital and is "doing fine."
"It's not life-threatening, by any stretch," Marchack said.
The victim, a man in his 40s whose name has not been released, underwent surgery later Thursday morning.
Police are investigating the man's robbery allegations.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Janice Golding
