A child stuck in mud up to his chest near Karitane, north of Dunedin, was rescued by emergency services last night.
The boy was stuck in the mudflats out from Coast Rd, police and fire service spokesmen said.
A fire crew from Waikouaiti responded to the 7pm emergency call and freed the boy within minutes of being on site.
An ambulance crew was dispatched to check the boy's condition, although he was not injured.
