And for the hospital's security guard Freddie Simmons it was undoubtedly the most memorable case of un-clawful entry.

The object which grabbed -- or, was it crabbed -- such attention?...an extremely rare one-foot land crab.

The crusty creature caused a sensation when it sidled into the geriatric wing of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital on Monday night.

And, for a moment, shell-shocked elderly patients must have thought they were caught up in a real life Jurassic Park.

The intruder, complete with two fearsome pincers, certainly provided claws for thought ... and soon housekeeping staff were pressing the panic button.

Said Mr. Simmons, who raced to the scene: "The women were screaming. They were afraid because they thought the crab may be poisonous.

"The crab was cornered by a trash can. It was obviously very nervous, and pretty aggressive.

"It kept making little darting movements forward, which made it difficult to catch.'' Mr. Simmons said he eventually managed to to trap the blue crab in a cardboard box.

"I wasn't nervous myself, although I was anxious not to have been caught by the pincers.

"One of them was extremely large and could have given quite a nip.'' Mr. Simmons said the giant crab had first been spotted at about 9 p.m. by three women visitors to the extended care unit.

"My supervisor went to investigate, and when he didn't return I went to have a look. It's certainly the first time I've ever experienced anything like this.'' Mr. Simmons, who immediately nicknamed his charge Kyle, said the Aquarium was alerted, along with Government conservation officer Mr. David Wingate.

Parks superintendent Mr. Jeremy Madeiros also rushed to the scene.

Yesterday he said he was astounded -- and delighted -- by the unwelcome hospital visit.

"The crab must have gone on an epic journey, crossing several roads to arrive at the unit.

"It is a characteristic of some male crabs to go out at night for long periods. They can carry their own water supply.

"And it would be no problem to go from the South Shore to the North Shore.'' Mr. Madeiros said the crab -- almost certainly a male -- was a mere nipper, in terms of age, that is.

"When it is fully matured it could well stretch to two feet across. It will also turn white.'' He added the smaller of the crab's two pincers provided the worst nip -- powerful enough to break a person's little finger.

Mr. Madeiros said the crab, a vegetarian, probably came from the Hungry Bay area.

Giant crabs were extremely rare -- there were only two colonies on the Island, he added.

Yesterday Kyle was taken to Nonsuch Island in the hope of finding him a mate -- and forming another colony.

Dr. Wingate and his staff, of course, will take on the role of protective colonialists.

And, on this occasion, Bermuda's campaigners for independence should have no complaints! KYLE BE DAMNED! -- Caught in a pincer movement, Kyle the giant land crab fends off the advances of Parks superintendent Mr. Jeremy Madeiros, above, and security guard Mr. Freddie Simmons.