A Virginia man died in a freak accident involving a sword after accidentally stabbing himself in the groin, according to authorities.

Police responded around 4:40 p.m. to a home in Newport News on a report about an accidental stab wound, news station WTKR reported.

Witnesses told authorities that the 28-year-old man mistakenly impaled himself with the sword while walking down a flight of stairs. It’s unclear why he was carrying the weapon.

Emergency responders tried to stop the victim’s bleeding to no avail, according to the Charlotte Observer. The man was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:25 p.m., officials said.