Firemen had to use a circular saw to cut off metal rings stuck on a Thai man's penis.

The officers were called to Satuek Hospital in Buriram province after the 28-year-old patient was admitted for severe swelling in his genitals on Monday.

The villager claimed he had attached metal and plastic rings from a fishing rod onto his manhood 'because he was afraid other men would steal his large penis'.

Rescuers spent 10 minutes carefully cutting the makeshift sex toys using an angle grinder. As they took care to avoid grazing the man's penis, which had 'ballooned to the size of a fist', he reportedly kept complaining: ‘I was afraid the village health volunteers would take mine because my size is extra large.'

The rings were safely removed and the villager was transferred to Buriram Hospital for further observation.

Firefighter Narong Saengprasert, 31, said: 'I was shocked when I saw it. There were two layers, plastic and stainless steel rings, wrapped tightly around the base of his penis, like something taken from a fishing rod. The tip was so swollen it was nearly the size of a fist.

'We had to use a grinder and cut carefully for almost ten minutes. We were worried we might hurt him.'

Shocked hospital staff said they were 'bewildered' as it was their first time handling such a case.