Boy, 3, stuck in vending machine

Twitter user Todd Stephen

STUCK: Shoppers watch as the boy sits inside the vending machine.

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Australia

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A three-year-old boy has been freed from inside a toy vending machine at a Australian shopping centre after climbing up the prize chute to get to the toys.

Callum Sammut waited until his mother wasn’t looking before crawling up the chute at Lake Haven yesterday morning to the amazement of shoppers and the youngster's mother, Tracey.

"I called out 'Callum, where are you' and he said 'I'm here mum'...and he popped his head out [of the chute]'' a bemused Tracey Sammut told Sky News.

Police, ambulance paramedics and Volunteer Rescue Association teams were called to Lake Haven Shopping Centre about 11am to free him from the machine.

"How much air was in there, that was the first question I asked," Ms Sammut said.

"He's definitely got a bit of contortionist in him."

Witness Angie Saladine said she couldn't believe her eyes.

"You know when you do a double take, when you don’t think you’re seeing what you’re seeing?"  she said.

"It was like that."

Rescue workers removed the vending machine’s door within 10 minutes to free Callum, who spent close to an hour inside.

Ms Saladine said Callum did not seem stressed by the situation

"‘He was really excited he got hold of the toys," she said. "The security staff looked a bit baffled."

The boy was not hurt during his ordeal.

- with Tim Connell of the Newcastle Herald

- © Fairfax NZ News