Mounties in Nanaimo say it's lucky no one was struck when a volunteer at a needle exchange found a loaded shotgun in a garbage can and fired it, thinking it was fake.

The bizarre incident happened near Harris House Health Clinic in the 300-block of Franklin Street Tuesday morning around 10 a.m.

The man was helping staff clean up the property when he found what he believed to be a toy or replica shotgun in the trash.

He racked it and pulled the trigger and to his shock, the gun fired a round into the pavement.

Nanaimo RCMP spokesman Gary O'Brien said nobody was injured in the incident – but it could've been much worse.

"It could've been absolutely tragic," he said. "It could have been there for upwards of 24 hours with a shotgun shell in the chamber, so if some kids had come back and played with it, it could’ve had tragic consequences."

RCMP were called to the scene and seized the gun.

Forensic investigators are now trying to determine how the gun came to be in the garbage can and will search the serial number to see if it's connected to any other criminal incidents.

O'Brien said it serves as a lesson to the public to never pick up a found firearm, even if it appears to be fake.