COLUMBUS, Ohio -- An Ohio teenager who locked himself out of the house tried to make like Santa Claus and shimmy down the chimney.
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It didn't work.

Firefighters in Columbus say the 15-year-old was small enough to get most of the way down the chimney, which was about 1 foot wide.  

But the flue that opens into the house was only 8 inches across.

After cutting off the gas supply to the fireplace, firefighters considered cutting holes in the chimney or taking it apart. But they ended up taking a lower-tech approach.

They lowered a rope from an aerial ladder and pulled the boy up very slowly.

The teen lost his pants on the trip out but wasn't hurt.