But this was absolutely the case for one unlucky tourist who was glad to be freed from his unwelcome lavatory lock-up shortly after midnight yesterday.
Station Officer Calvin Harradine, of St Kilda, said firefighters got the call to a man trapped in an automated public toilet at the Esplanade at St Clair at 12.15am.
``We were like `stuck in a toilet, what are they talking about?','' he said of the crew's first reaction.
When they arrived at the scene they found a tourist trapped in a malfunctioning lavatory and two female friends outside unable to help.
``He had been in there for about 25 minutes,'' Mr Harradine said.
``The door had jammed, so we used a Halligan bar and a crowbar to pry the door open and get him out.
``He tried everything but she wouldn't open at all.''
It was just another day on the job for firefighters, he said.
``It wasn't a really big deal, it was just a bit funny.''
Despite his embarrassing predicament, the tourist was pleased to see the firefighters.
``He was pretty happy [to see us],'' Mr Harradine said.
``He was in good spirits, but Christmas night and being in a foreign country he was probably thinking `... am I going to get out of here?'.''
Prying the door open had made the lights automatically signal it was out of order, he said.
Although sympathetic to the man's predicament, Mr Harradine admitted the firefighters engaged in toilet humour on the way back to the station.
A Dunedin City Council spokesman said it was unfortunate someone was stuck in the toilet and the council would follow up the matter with the manufacturer.
He was unable to comment on the fault that caused the situation.
