A child left diners stunned after he managed to crawl into a claw machine at a popular pub. 

The boy managed to squeeze his way through the prize chute of the machine at The Ranch Hotel in North Ryde, Sydney‘s north-west.

He appeared to be having the time of his life as he smiled from ear to ear while sitting on top of a pile of Minions and Disney soft toys.

Photographs of his little adventure were shared to Facebook where social media users were left stunned and impressed. 

‘But how did the child get through the square opening?’ one wrote.

Another replied:  ‘Oh my son did that years ago. They can just climb in the vent where the teddies come out.’

Many joked there appeared to be a bigger prize up for grabs.

‘Kind of an expensive prize if you win it,’ one wrote.

A toddler became stuck inside a claw machine on the weekend – but he was happy

Many Aussies thought the boy should be praised for having a ‘gift’ and being a ‘go-getter’

‘I don’t think that’s an appropriate prize,’ another said.

Another joked: ‘Well I won’t be playing that machine… knowing my luck I’ll get the kid.’

Other social media users commented on how talented the little boy appeared to be. 

‘That kid’s is a go-getter he will go far in this world,’ one wrote.

‘This child has a gift which should be treasured and nurtured,’ another said. 

Another added: ‘Look at how happy he is.’

‘I think he was having more fun in there,’ one wrote.

Others were angry questioning why nobody at the venue tried to stop the boy from going inside the machine. 

Some commented on how children making their way inside claw machines seems to be a common occurrence.   

‘Is this the new TikTok trend for parents now, because it’s happening all the time?’ one wrote.

‘Last saw this happen at Lake haven shopping centre,’ another said. 

It’s not the first time a child has been tempted by the toys inside a claw machine before making their way in – only to become stuck.

Three-year-old Ethan became trapped in a Hello Kitty claw machine in Brisbane in January, with police having to smash the glass to rescue him. 

Ethan was removed unharmed, with his father later saying it had only taken the three-year-old mere seconds to crawl inside the glass box.