The man, who was in his late teens or early 20s, was walking home when he found himself in a tight spot about 12.30am yesterday.
''He was taking a shortcut between George St and Great King St, obviously climbing over a wall, and got stuck,'' Senior Sergeant Craig Brown, of Dunedin, said.
The man fell and hit his head, and got stuck in the gap.
A member of the public saw the man's predicament and contacted police.
The Fire Service was called to assist police with freeing the intoxicated man, Snr Sgt Brown said.
Senior Station Officer Mark Leonard, of Dunedin, said the man was freed by firefighters using a line tied in a ''sewer knot''.
''We used a Fire Service line and used a sewer knot, which goes under both arms,'' he said.
''It's the way to vertically raise someone.''
One appliance attended and was at the job for 15 minutes.
''It's just a good thing he didn't fall head first,'' he said.
Snr Sgt Brown said the man was ''reasonably appreciative'' after being freed.
