It wasn't a typical case of entrapment and they didn't need the jaws-of-life.

Firefighters and St John Ambulance staff had to rescue a man after he became stuck in an electric dryer.

Senior Constable Greg Sutherland, of the Temuka police, said the 42-year-old man had been drinking at a Waipopo address and tried to climb in the dryer to retrieve some underwear about 6.30pm on Saturday.

An ambulance, a police officer, and two fire appliances, from Washdyke and Temuka, were called to the property after the man's head, arms and shoulders became stuck in the machine.

"He got in through the door of the dryer, his shoulders got stuck and he couldn't manoeuvre," Constable Sutherland said. With his arms trapped, the man had no leverage to back out of the dryer.

"Every time he tried to get out, the dryer came with him."

Mr Sutherland said the man was "fairly agitated" by the time rescue arrived, but despite his state, firefighters managed to free him within minutes.

Firefighter Rooy Hoogenraad said nothing more than "skill and dexterity" was used to extract the man.

"We do entrapments ... this would be one of the more unusual entrapments."

As two firefighters held the machine, two others pulled the man from the machine.

- The Timaru Herald