Man rescued from Australian pub chimney after 10 hours: police

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2007

SYDNEY (AFP) — Police said Friday they were waiting to question a man who had to be rescued by firefighters after he got stuck in the chimney of an Australian outback pub.

Officers believe the man -- too late to be making a Christmas delivery -- may have been an incompetent burglar who got wedged into the tight spot as he tried to break into the premises.

Firefighters took about 90 minutes to free him from the chimney of the Gapview Hotel bar in Alice Springs after staff heard his moans early Friday morning. He is thought to have been stuck for more than 10 hours.

Alice Springs fire station officer Mark James said the rescue was "unusual".

"When we first got here we, because we've never been confronted by anything like this before, (thought it was) a...