A Minneapolis man said he was preparing to leave his foreclosed home for the last time when contractors boarded up the house with him still inside.

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Ted Poetsch, 53, said he was finishing packing and loading his cat into its carrier May 12 when he heard drilling coming from the frame of his front door, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Monday.

Poetsch, who walks with a cane, said he descended the home's stairs to find the contractors had already completed boarding up the house without making sure there was nobody inside.

City officials said Poetsch had been warned the contractors were coming that day, but they admitted boarding him up inside was a mistake that was unprecedented for the city.

Poetsch said he escaped his house-turned-prison with the help of his one-time lawyer, Josh DuBois.