An apparatus and method for plugging a tubular bore is disclosed herein. The apparatus comprises: a shaft member; one or more cylindrical compressible seals slideably disposed around the shaft member, wherein the shaft member passes axially through the one or more cylindrical seals; one or more cylindrical hard sleeves having one or more conical ends slideably disposed around the shaft member and adjacent to the one or more cylindrical seals; a flange attached at or near a distal end of the shaft member, wherein the flange retains the cylindrical sleeves and cylindrical seals on the shaft member; and a pulling mechanism disposed at or near a proximal end of the shaft member, wherein the seal is positioned between the flange and the one or more cylindrical hard sleeves such that compression of the seal causes it to expand away from the shaft member.