A bungling patient who had put a padlock through his ear needed medics to remove it after the metal item caused an infection.

The 20-year-old man went to the hospital for treatment and requested surgery to cut away the lock from his left ear at Chakkarat Hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, on August 28.

Doctors called the emergency services for them to bring power tools. Footage shows firemen Kecha Ploymuenwai and his team cutting through the patient's skin to separate the metal object from the ear.

His earlobe appeared swollen and red, with a wound where the lock had been placed. The team spent about five minutes before successfully removing the padlock.

The patient told doctors he had worn the padlock to try and achieve a heavy-metal style rock-and-roll fashion look.

Doctor Keacha said: 'He put the padlock through an ear piercing but did not think about how he would remove it after. He did not have a key.'