A US couple's prank went horribly wrong after they placed their child inside a washing machine in a public Laundromat. The machine then started to whir into action with the child stuck inside.

CCTV footage shows the couple frantically trying to open the door of machine dryer with several people watching. The toddler was eventually freed by a member of staff after over a minute of being caught in the whirl.

The footage also shows the couple's horror turning into anger at one another, with the video showing the mother walking to the table and slamming her hands down in frustration.

The video was posted on YouTube by a user identified as PrincessZebra, who said the child is safe now, having endured minor injuries. The video has received more than 26,000 hits, media reports said.

The couple apparently took the literal sense of a sign in the laundry which read 'Junior wash $2.95' and put their child into the dryer. The incident happened on May 11.

The video begins by showing the toddler's mother sorting through the laundry on a table while the father lifts the small boy and shoves him into the machine, closing its door.The couple is seen frantically tugging at the machines door in a desperate bid to free the child.

Eventually the drum is opened and the boy pulled out by his father who is seen rushing off holding the injured toddler, while the mother trails behind him.