Appliance Can’t Wash Boy, 10, of Curiosity

A 10-year-old Laguna Hills boy had to be rescued from a washing machine Wednesday after learning that the appliance is far more friendly to laundry than to people.

“Kids will be kids,” said Stephen Miller, a spokesman for the Orange County Fire Authority, which was called to the scene.

“They get stuck in some interesting places.”

Miller said the boy “decided to crawl in there to find out if he could physically get inside.” He found out that he could. The problem was getting back out.

County firefighters summoned to the boy’s grandparents’ house in the 22900 block of Caminito Lago about 8:30 p.m. found the boy, whose name was not released, curled up inside the washing machine drum.

“He was trying to get out with his head,” Miller said, “but his feet were in the way. He couldn’t figure out how to get out of the situation.”

Rescuers persuaded the youngster to lie down inside the drum and relax. Then they pulled him out by his feet.

The boy, who spent an estimated 15 minutes stuck in the washing machine, was not injured.

“He had a good sense of humor about the whole thing,” Miller said.