Help!!! DS locked in bedroom!!!

[HoofWankingSpangleCunt]

Just posting in AIBU for traffic although an alternative thread title could be AIBU To Leave Him In There?

Seriously though I'm starting to panic as all my efforts have had no effect whatsoever.
The door has the handle missing from the outside. There is nothing within the space where levers etc should be but the handle is still screwed onto his side . However that handle is useless.
I've wiggled and waggled, flat screwdrivers, tiny knives . I've watched videos but they all either use specialist tools or have a different door handle design.
Please can anyone help me get him out of his room?
He wasn't supposed to shut the door but hey ho. He has and we're here.
The photo is of the space inside the door from my side, this is where the inner bolt thing of the door handle would go. And the door handle is on the other side of the door, naturally.

DH is a fire fighter, they never mind going to these type of calls. If they got something more urgent while on the way or even while they were there, they would be diverted to the more urgent case. That's what they are there for! And their control room will often suggest alternatives if they are short at that particular time.

I’m so glad you all ok. Our emergency services are brilliant

oh bless him....fresh air and sympathy with the cave boys!

get the latch out of the door asap so there cannot be a repeat performance! ...that's if the FiremenGuys didn't already!

This exact same thing happened to me when I was about 12, and I'd also latched the front door and left key in so my mum couldn't get in! Thankfully our neighbour was home and they managed to excavate me, I forget how.

A few years later, we got stuck in there when I was staying with my then boyfriend and my mum was away on holiday (she'd offered us to stay while she was away). We had to break the pane of glass at the top of the door and he had to climb out and open it from the other side.

She did eventually put a handle on after that one

*extricate. I wasn't underground!

I wouldn't have called the fire brigade but I completely understand why you did. I think when there is a young child involved you can't be faffing around too long. He could have panicked or something. I'm glad they were happy to help.

I wonder if it had been an adult stuck in the bathroom whether they would have charged you. I think they can. It does seem overkill to have an actual fire engine and team of firemen turn up for something that I think a lot of DIY'ers could have sorted out themselves but I don't blame you for calling them. I'm sure if there had been a proper emergency they would have prioritised it

I'm so pleased he's free, do you know the station they came from? I'd get DS to send a thank you note and maybe send a box of biscuits or something for their tea break

I do want to do exactly that, haribo
DS has already started a thank you card and I'll take him and a box of biscuits to the station. It's pretty local to us.
Pps are right in that DIYers may well have been able to sort it out. In the end, the only tool that worked was an angled flat crowbar spade thing. I certainly don't have one of those in my toolbox.
The Firefighters were great, I offered to pay but they waived the fee due to his age and disability.

Now I just have to get a new door.

Thanks for all the stories from posters of lucky escapes. It is horrid being locked in, I think it's the combination of feeling helpless and a bit daft plus a restricted access to snacks.

Anyway, thanks again Mumsnet for doing what you're best at, coming to the aid of internet randoms with support and advice. I've been on here about 13 years and although a lot has changed, the big hearted generosity of spirit is a constant. I heart you all .

Glad he's out op, that's a story to save for the future!

Fwiw, my husband pushed a pushchair in to a cupboard then shut the door, wedging the handle on the top of the pushchair. We got the door open again by bending a thin crochet hook and threading it behind the latch, then pulling it forward to depress it in to the door. Hook was ruined of course. Won't let him forget it

I offered to pay but they waived the fee due to his age and disability.

That was nice to offer and I am glad they waived the fee. I think that was the right thing of them to do too.

This is great. Glad he made it out! I did this once at a party - bolted the toilet door and then the bolt wouldn't release. Luckily the bathroom had a window accessible from the outside, so they popped a butter knife through the window and I unscrewed the bolt with it!