Ethan Hopper, 3, gets stuck in Capalaba Shopping Centre claw machine

Police had to be called after a three-year-old boy managed to get inside a claw machine at a Brisbane shopping centre and got stuck. WATCH THE VIDEO

A three-year-old boy who somehow managed to climb inside a Redlands shopping centre claw game machine and become trapped, sat atop a pile of prizes and yelled “free toys” as emergency services and his bemused father scrambled to get him out.

Three-year-old Ethan Hopper was playing at the “claw machine” at Capalaba Shopping Centre on Saturday afternoon, January 27, when he decided to — perhaps skilfully — squeeze not only past the hinged door where toy prizes are retrieved, but also climb up the shute and sit among the highly coveted soft toys.

The unfathomable sight left his father Tim reeling as his son, in a matter of seconds, became trapped inside — excitedly surrounded by toys.

“I looked around and all of a sudden he was stuck in the machine and I just started laughing, thinking ‘how did he get up there?’” Mr Hopper said.

Ethan Hopper, 3, smiles at police after yelling “free toys” to onlookers at Capalaba Shopping Centre when he became trapped inside a claw machine.

“A huge crowd gathered and were all pointing and entertained, when Ethan started getting all that attention from the crowd he started showing off and enjoying it even more, he thought he was the king.

“At one point he yelled out ‘free toys’ and started throwing toys down the shoot from the machine to the patrons standing around.”

Mr Hopper said he contacted the owners of the machine and they could not understand what happened at first.

“The company kept asking me if I had money stuck in the machine and I said the only thing stuck in the machine is my three-year-old son.”

Ethan Hopper, 3, who trapped himself inside a claw machine at Capalaba Shopping Centre thought he had reached the motherload of toys but, sadly for him, was told by his bemused father he was not allowed to keep any.

The police arrived roughly an hour later and shattered the glass side of the machine while Ethan looked away.

“We’re just happy it all worked out in the end and nobody was hurt. It will be a great story to tell at his 21st.

“He’s always a bit of an adventurous kid and gets himself in these odd situations with his antics a lot. He has no fear and often uses my drawers at home as a ladder.”

He said they were doing their “normal grocery shop” at Capalaba Shopping Centre on Saturday afternoon when the three-year-old climbed in the claw game machine within minutes.

Mr Hopper said he initially found the incident funny but that reality soon set in that Ethan was trapped.

He said there is a brand new machine in the centre now but that Ethan told him “don’t worry dad I won’t do it again”.

“Kids are going to be kids – they move in the blink of an eye,” Mr Hopper said.

Mr Hopper said Ethan appeared to enjoy his time in the machine and was “more excited that he was going to get a cuddle from a police officer”.

B Senior Constable Stewart Power with Ethan Hopper, 3. Picture: Glenn Campbell/NCA NewsWire

He said if parents found themselves in the same situation that it was important to stay calm and let the authorities do their job.

Capalaba Tactical Crime Squad Senior Constable Stuart Power said it was the first time in 11 years of policing that he had been tasked to a toddler stuck in a claw game machine.

“When we got the call, there was a bit of a smile in the car, both of us are fathers,” Senior Constable Power said.

Senior Constable Power said they knew the machine was made of safety glass so it would “drop straight down” but instructed Ethan to cover his eyes and stay in the back corner.

“My boy is four and I’m surprised he hasn’t done it either.”

A slightly embarrassed Mr Hopper said he didn’t let Ethan keep any toys, much to Ethan’s disappointment.