Health

Snail crawls out of child's knee

August 15, 2013 / 2:32 PM EDT / CBS News

Four year-old Paul Franklin of Aliso Viejo, Calif. looks at his snail named "Turbo."

Franklin, fell and cut his knee on a rock during a family vacation to the beach. After several cleanings, trips to the doctor and a course of antibiotics, the wound turned black after three weeks.

Against the doctor's suggestions, his mom, Rachael, squeezed the swollen wound to drain it. Along with the discharge, popped out a snail which she believes grew from an egg embedded in the cut.

Four year-old Paul Franklin poses with his mother, Rachael (left) and brother Luke (right), 2.

The tiny snail, which grew in Paul Franklin's knee for three weeks is shown, on a dime for scale.

Paul Franklin shows "Turbo," the tiny snail that hatched from a cut in his knee.

Snails lay their eggs on surfaces like plants or soil, according to Texas A&M University. Under ideal conditions, the eggs hatch in about one month.

"Turbo" emerged from a wound on Paul Franklin's knee that he got while climbing a rock at the beach.

CBS News 24/7