A woman who tried to force her way into her boyfriend's home by sliding down the chimney died after becoming stuck.

Jacquelyn Kotarac, 49, a medical doctor, first tried to get into the house with a shovel, then climbed a ladder to the roof, removed the chimney cap and slid feet first down the flue.

While she was trying to break in, William Moodie, 58, escaped unnoticed from another exit "to avoid a confrontation," police said.

The body of Dr Kotarac, who had been having an on-off relationship with her boyfriend, was not found for three days.

"She made an unbelievable error in judgment and nobody understands why, and unfortunately she's passed away," Mr Moodie said. "She had her issues - she had her demons - but I never lost my respect for her".

He would not comment on the circumstances that led to her death, saying it was more important to focus on the good she did in life.

Mr Kotarac's body was not discovered until a house-sitter noticed a stench and fluids coming from the fireplace last Saturday, three days after she became stuck.

The house-sitter and her son investigated with a torch and found Dr Kotarac dead, wedged about two feet above the top of the interior fireplace opening.

Firefighters spent five hours dismantling the chimney and flue from outside the home to extract the body Dr Kotarac's office reported her missing two days earlier when she failed to show for work. Her car and belongings remained near the man's house.