Man says he ended up in ER after cockroach burrowed into his ear during late-night car repair

A 23-year-old man says a routine late-night car repair turned into an emergency room visit after an insect flew into his ear and became lodged deep in his ear canal. That’s according to a Reddit post shared in the r/MildlyInfuriating community by user Gharris02.

The user described the incident as unfolding shortly after 10:30 p.m., when he went outside to replace a car battery he had just purchased at auction. He said he was working under a headlamp in an outdoor setting when the situation escalated.

According to the post, a flying insect appeared to be attracted to the light and struck the side of his head during the repair. “It hit the outer edge of my ear and toilet bowl swirls into it,” he wrote, describing the moment it entered his ear canal.

Home remedies didn’t work, so he went to the hospital

He said the situation quickly shifted from annoyance to pain and panic. He attempted to remove the insect himself, adding that it burrowed up against his eardrum, saying, “It hurts like hell.”

Gharris02 said he initially tried flushing the ear and using common household methods, but the insect continued to move. He also said his girlfriend attempted to help with tweezers, but couldn’t see the insect inside the ear canal. Eventually, he said they used olive oil in an attempt to immobilize it, a method sometimes referenced in at-home first aid discussions.

Health organizations generally caution against inserting objects into the ear in an attempt to remove insects or debris. The Cleveland Clinic advises that attempts to probe the ear can push objects deeper and increase the risk of injury, especially if the object is near the eardrum.

After the movement stopped, Gharris02 said he went to an emergency room. Once there, medical staff removed the insect after approximately two hours. He described it as a roughly half-inch insect.

Gharris02 added that it was identified as an Asian cockroach, a flying species typically found outdoors. The user said the experience resulted in no lasting medical issues. Gharris02 said he returned to work the next day.

Medical professionals note that insects entering the ear canal are uncommon. They can, however, occur in outdoor environments, especially at night when artificial light sources attract flying insects. The ear canal’s narrow structure can also make removal difficult without medical tools.

Similar incidents have periodically surfaced across social platforms, including Reddit, where users have shared experiences of insects entering ears. Medical discussions online often emphasize that, while frightening, most cases are treatable when addressed promptly by professionals.

This article includes descriptions sourced from user-generated medical content on social media. The details have not been independently verified. They reflect the account of an individual Reddit user and should not be interpreted as medical advice.