Posted on 05/19/2005 4:36:51 PM PDT by hoosierboy
Elkhart, IN - An early morning shopping trip left an Elkhart toddler caught in an unusual situation: inside a vending machine.
With his sleep schedule thrown off by cold medicine, 3-year-old James was awake at 3:30 Thursday morning, so he and him mom went to the Elkhart Wal-Mart. On their way out, James wanted a toy from what is commonly known as the claw machine.
James’ mother tried to get a toy out of the machine, but when the toy didn’t come out, James decided to go in.
”He climbed up the chute and into the bin,” says mom Danielle Manges. “He was playing with all the toys and hanging from the bar like a monkey.”
Danielle laughed at first but when Wal-Mart employees couldn’t find a key to the machine, she called the fire department.
Anthony Coleman of the Elkhart Fire Department said, “I expected his hand to be caught in the machine but it was his entire body in the machine. It was a toy machine and he was actually in there and enjoying himself.”
Danielle bought a camera and took pictures of James and his rescuers. Using some tools, they had James free in about 10 minutes.
”I pulled him from the back, he came right to me and then I handed him to mom,” said Firefighter Jeff Herman. “We checked him out and he was fine so off they went.”
”He is doing alright,” says Danielle. “He was in a bit of trouble afterwards. He definitely didn’t get a toy after that.”
”He the next great Houdini, “ says Coleman.
James mother says he has done things like this before, like climbing out of his playpen, doors and even out of windows.
Wal-Mart declined to comment on James’ escapade.
Have him show the game manufacturer how he did it so they can fix it. After that, getting him a really good toy (not the crap in the machine) is the least they can do.
Well, there was always the option of plugging it with quarters and trying to grab his little head with the claw...
Aw, the poor little guy. I'm happy he didn't panic.
LOL
ROTFL!
But would he fit through the little slit where the toys come out?
"Dang it, lady, I wanted the fuzzy bunny, not the kid. Put him back."
I think that's how he got in.
I pictured my 2 year old doing this. Will be watching that tike even closer.
THAT made me laugh.
Hah!
The little brat needs to get the naughty seat!!! Put him in a corner.
My question is though, which part of him do you try to grab? His head? His leg? Grab him by the shoulder? His butt?
I was never any good with those machines, hell, I'd poke his eye out or something!
A: Not watch him climb into the machine.
B: Spend the money on a leash.
This happened several months ago also.
Yes it did. Can you smell a copycat lawsuit?
Pass the chili, please, while I check the surveillance video...
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