GEORGE TOWN (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - A man endured what was possibly the most painful night of his life when a ball-bearing metal ring got stuck on his penis for more than 12 hours.

The man, in his 20s, is believed to have used the device to add pleasure and prolong his erection while having sex with his wife at around 8pm on Saturday (March 18).

However, it got stuck around his private parts. Attempts to remove it by applying oil and soapy water failed.

Even doctors could not relieve him of his ordeal, so firefighters came to his rescue.

"When we arrived at the hospital, he was in a semi-conscious state," said Perak Road fire station operations commander Mohd Asrul Naim Abidin.

"We used a drill specially configured by my personnel to remove the device which we believe was for a pool pump. It took us only 10 minutes to cut it off. The man, who is in stable condition, was so relieved," he said at the hospital.

He said the fire station received a distress call from the hospital at 10.50am on Sunday.

The man's penis reportedly became swollen and was turning black when he was brought to the Penang Hospital.

The organ is said to be still "functional" after the ordeal.

Perak Road fire station chief Yamin Tekor said it was rare for them to receive calls to remove rings or other devices from private parts.

He said they would get about three to four calls a year from people seeking help to remove rings stuck on their fingers.