A 17-month-old child is the reason behind an unlikely rescue, after becoming trapped inside of a vending machine near Waihi Beach earlier this week.

Northern Fire Communications shift manager Craig Dally says Mayor View Volunteer Fire Brigade were called to the job on Monday at about 10am.

'A 17-month-old child had climbed into a vending machine. He did not appear to be distressed at the time of the incident and he was happily removed from the machine.

'We received a call about the incident at about 10am and he was out 12 minutes later.”

The incident has been shared to Facebook by the Fire Brigade who attended, and has received amused reactions from readers.

'Child is safe and well… rugby ball remains in the machine,” says a post on the Mayor View Brigade Facebook Page.