4-Year-Old Boy Freed From Vending Machine After Six Hours Of Rescue Operation

A 4-year-old boy found himself in the center of a rescue mission after he got his arm stuck in a vending machine. Now, the child is recovering in a hospital.

On Sunday, Feb.28, shortly after midday, rescuers were called to the apartment complex on Lonsdale Street, where the crew has found Leo Shorthouse with his hand trapped in the anti-theft flaps of the machine.

Aaron Shorthouse, the child's father, said they are from Arnhem Land and his child had never seen a vending machine before. And the ordeal started after his son saw a packet of Oreo biscuits inside the said machine.

The Metropolitan Fire Brigade did everything they can to carefully free Leo, who was in considerable distress at that time. The team also tried to calm the child by showing him some cartoons through a smartphone. But at one point, the rescuers sedated the trapped boy.

Sgt Ali Gurdag of Victoria police said that it was a very challenging situation for him as well as for the whole rescuers. Although it was a very challenging rescue mission, he said that the child was "stoic" throughout the operation. "The fortitude of the little fellow is just amazing," he further added to the Herald Sun.

Talking about the ordeal, Mr. Shorthouse said it was a very exhausting moment. It was very tough for him to see his son trapped while rescuers worked and did everything they could to free him. And after the lengthy ordeal, he praised and thanked the rescue team for saving his son "I must say the firies and the police were actually amazing," he said to 7 News Melbourne via The Age. "They were incredible."

After the boy was freed, he was taken to Royal Children's Hospital. "He's fine after five-and-a-half hours," Mr. Shorthouse said. "He was a bit inquisitive, he put his hand in the vending machine, but yes he's good now."