Wisconsin Firefighters Rescue Child Trapped Inside Claw Machine

It sounds like something you'd expect out of a cartoon, but it really happened in Madison.

Just a few days ago, firefighters in Madison, Wisconsin were called to Milin's Ice Cream and Snacks after a report that a child had somehow gotten inside a claw machine.

Yes, inside it.  Not playing it.

Wisconsin Firefighters Rescue Child Trapped Inside Claw Machine

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According to the Madison Fire Department, the child (2 or 3 years old), had apparently crawled through the prize-retrieval opening and ended up stuck inside the machine.  When firefighters arrived just after 1pm, they found the very unhappy toddler sitting in the claw machine, surrounded by plush toys and very confused.

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A video of the moment, later shared on Reddit, shows firefighters calmly arriving and trying to figure out how to help.  One firefighter asks a man off-camera if he has the keys, while the child starts to cry.  In true firefighter fashion, they try to comfort him right away, saying, "We'll get you, bud" and asking for his name to keep him calm.

While one firefighter worked to unlock the machine with a screwdriver-like tool, the situation escalated emotionally.  The child cried louder and scooted toward the back of the machine, as if he might somehow magically improve his escape plan.  Luckily, it didn't take long!

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Within two minutes, firefighters were able to open the machine and safely lift the child out, returning him directly to his mother.  No injuries reported, and impressively, the claw machine wasn't even damaged in the process.  The fire department later said the incident was not referred to police and described as a "curious toddler getting himself into a bit of a pickle."

To be a kid, I swear.  Watch the video of the toddler stuck in the claw machine!