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Modern day houdini puts life on the line
MOVE over David Blaine - meet the man who is putting his life on the line to give the Golden Mile a magical start to 2008.
Dubbed a modern day Harry Houdini, escapologist Danny Hunt is heading to Blackpool next month to perform three death-defying stunts.
And he will risk life and limb as part of three free shows in the resort.
The 29-year-old will perform a modern day version of his hero Houdini's infamous Water Torture escape and then, locked inside a wooden case, he will be torn apart by two powerful vehicles unless he escapes within just three nail-biting minutes.
"Come and watch a lunatic do some really silly and dangerous things," was how Danny explained the premise of his show.
"I've taken inspiration from Houdini, my hero, and I want to do him proud by updating his water torture escape with my own modern day version."
The water stunt will see Danny's head plunged upside down into a tank of cold water with his neck trapped in stocks and his hand handcuffed behind his back.
And unlike Houdini, who performed his escape behind a curtain, Danny, from County Durham, will perform his daredevil escape in complete view of the public.
"Obviously no one wants to see me die," said Danny, who got into magic after receiving a Paul Daniels magic set for Christmas at the age of four.
"But in modern times people won't want to sit watching a curtain for 20 minutes while I perform the escape.
"Hopefully, everyone will come down and watch the magic happen."
The locations of the stunts – which like American magician David Blaine's famed stunts will be performed free for the crowds – are yet to be confirmed.
Magic
Visitors will be able to see them as part of Blackpool's first annual festival of circus, magic and variety, called Showzam, which runs from February 8 to 24.
Danny who performs escapology and illusion acts throughout the country with his partner Annette Claire, as the duo Amethyst, is also going to attempt a stunt where he escapes from a coffin before two trucks tear him limb from limb.
He explained: "I will be tied up with chains around my neck and ankles and handcuffed and placed in a coffin-like box.
"Then I will have about two minutes to escape before the trucks run me over."
For more details on Showzam, go to www.showzam.co.uk
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Weather for Blackpool
Monday 13 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 30 mph
Wind direction: West
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Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 8 C
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