The man entered the townhouse bathroom about 6.30am Monday, unaware of the struggle that awaited him. 

Kiama SES were called in after all efforts to open the door failed and neighbours could not produce a long enough ladder to reach the first floor bathroom window. 

Volunteers climbed up the side of the townhouse and brought the man out through a small window. 

“We don’t see this very often,” SES team member Andrew McCullough told the Mercury.

“Often when this sort of job happens it’s related to a medical incident. 

“It’s good to be able to rescue someone like this, and have a laugh with them later.

“[The trapped man] was relieved to get out of there.” 

Mr McCullough paid tribute to fellow volunteers, who assembled on a public holiday for the job. 

The SES is the primary rescue agency in Kiama, and is often called on by emergency services to attend jobs in the area.

The rescued man, aged in his 30s, was holidaying in Kiama at a property close to Easts Beach when he got into trouble. 

The locks on the door were unbolted as part of the rescue operation, which took 20 minutes.