Patient in ceiling

A child spent hours in a ceiling cavity at Auckland’s Starship Children’s Hospital, eventually being rescued by firefighters.

A Fire and Emergency spokesman said the child had been inside the ceiling for ‘‘some time’’ overnight and into Thursday morning.

However, the Auckland District Health Board insists that the child was monitored through the night.

Hospital staff requested fire service assistance at 8am.

It is not yet known how the child came to be in the ceiling.

Auckland District Health Board refused to comment and at one point also demanded the fire service stay quiet and refrain from providing any further updates.

This left the fire spokesman confirming fire crews had left the scene by 9.45am – but he could not officially confirm if the child had been removed from the ceiling.

An ADHB spokeswoman later advised the ‘‘situation was resolved and the young person is safe’’.

‘‘A young patient climbed into the ceiling space of one of our wards during the night.

‘‘They were monitored through the night to ensure their safety.

‘‘They were not stuck or trapped.

‘‘The patient’s parents were consulted and updated at intervals throughout the incident,’’ the spokeswoman added at another later point.

‘‘The Fire Service and police were asked for their assistance in the morning.

‘‘The patient eventually came down willingly from the ceiling space.’’