A workman trapped inside a cash machine was forced to pass handwritten notes through the receipt slot to summon help - but customers thought it was a joke.

He became stuck when changing a lock to a room that leads to the back of the ATM, said police in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Lieutenant Chris Hooper said: "Apparently he left his cellphone and the swipe card he needed to get out of the room outside in his truck."

Image: The unfortunate man was changing a lock to a room behind the machine

When he realised he was trapped with no way to communicate, he resorted to sliding notes through the slot.

One read: "Please help. I'm stuck in here and I don't have my phone. Please call my boss ..."


People withdrawing cash though it was a prank, but luckily one called police who heard a faint voice from inside the machine.

'Just crazy' - police officer who rescued man

They kicked down the door and freed the red-faced worker - his name has so far not been released.

Corpus Christi police officer Richard Olden summed up the bizarre incident: "You'll never see this again in your life that somebody's stuck in the ATM machine. It was just great."