A one-month-old baby had to have his penis amputated after it became gangrenous reportedly following a botched circumcision by a nurse pretending to be a doctor.

Ashraf Helmi told local media he had gone with his sister-in-law and a family friend to have his son vaccinated at the Manti Medical Centre in Shubra El-Kheima in Qalyubia governorate in northern Cairo.

While there, he claims he was persuaded by the pair to have his son circumcised and agreed to let a nurse who allegedly pretended to be a doctor do the operation.

The nurse earned an extra 50-EGP (£2.40) bonus for the procedure, according to local media reports.

Ashraf Helmi (pictured) told local media he had gone with his sister-in-law and a family friend to have his son vaccinated at the Manti Medical Centre in Shubra El-Kheima in Qalyubia governorate in northern Cairo

'She did it at an emergency room and not an operation room. I made sure I was there because you hear of all the botched surgeries out there,' Helmi told the media.

'After finishing, she then fastened the gauze so tightly and when I told her it's very rough for a small boy, she said, "I know what I'm doing!"' he added

When he noticed a swelling on his son's penis, Helmi went for a follow-up at the medical centre.

While there, he became suspicious after the woman who operated on the tot allegedly told him to wait till she brought a 'doctor' and he later reported the matter to police.

A few days later, baby Mohamed developed an infection and his father then rushed him to Nasser Institute For Research and Treatment, in Cairo, where they had to amputate his penis as it had turned gangrenous.

'I didn't know what went on in the operation room; I only had someone tell me, 'Come take your daughter!'' he said.

A few days later, baby Mohamed developed an infection and his father then rushed him to Nasser Institute For Research and Treatment, in Cairo, where they had to amputate his penis as it had turned gangrenous (stock image)

Ministry of Health Deputy Minister, Hamdi al-Tabakh told local media that the nurse admitted she had gone through with the ill-fated surgery.

However, he said it was at the father's house, not at the medical centre, a claim which the father denies.

'The nurse is being internally investigated but she said the incident took place at the father's house upon his request,' al-Tabakh added.

The nurse has been detained and the case is being investigated.