A DAREDEVIL escapologist is planning a dramatic stunt for charity.
Linthwaite man Antony Britton has chosen the 86th anniversary of the death of legendary showman Harry Houdini to stage a daring escape bid.
The event at 7pm on Wednesday, October 31 – Hallowe’en – will take place above the River Calder close to Wakefield’s Hepworth Gallery.
Antony will attempt to escape from a straitjacket vertically suspended by burning ropes 50ft above the river.
The event aims to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. Antony hopes hundreds will turn out to watch the action and make voluntary donations to the cause.
It also marks the start of a three-year campaign, called Escape for Life, which will see Antony and other escapologists staging stunts to raise money for a variety of charities.
The Hallowe’en event has been organised by Antony in conjunction with the Wakefield Wharf Company, which owns the riverside site.
Antony, who’s day job is director of internet-based estate agency Britton & Co, said he had been prompted to back Macmillan Cancer Support by the loss of several close friends and colleagues from cancer over recent years.
Antony said: “Escape for Life is a brand new event to raise money and awareness for charities in need due to the economic climate.
“Escape for Life 2012 will be donating every penny raised to Macmillan Cancer Support in honour of the work they do.”
And he added: “Escape for Life is my visual interpretation of the fight against cancer. No one knows how terrible this illness can be unless they have experienced it themselves.”
Antony has been fascinated with escapology since the age of six when his grandfather entertained him with stories of the great Harry Houdini.
Performing since the age of 16, he disappeared from public view at the age of 20 to perform in the “underground” escape scene.
Some of his greatest escapes include being buried alive, water escapes from public waterways and escaping from a wooden crate laced with explosives and chains.
He has picked his way through handcuffs, locks and shackles as well as escaping from ropes, steel cages and glass chambers.
Re-emerging in 2011, Britton is once again back to perform in the public eye with a completely new style.
“I've lost many close friends to the devastating illness of cancer,” he said. “I also have friends that have survived. However, the mental scar is with them every day.
“Last year, a good friend lost a son who would have been celebrating his ninth birthday this year. He loved magic, illusion and escapology. It always brought a smile to his face, no matter how much pain he was in.”
Antony has been busy testing the equipment for his latest escape bid – although weather conditions on the night will also have to be taken into account.
He admitted: “It is a good few years since I have performed this escape.
“The biggest issue is the wind speed and direction. The betting seems to be on whether I fall into the river, hit the support boat and fall into the river or just hit the boat!”
The event is free to attend. Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/escapeforlife. Corporate sponsors can contact Antony on 0754 528397.
HARRY HOUDINI was born Ehrich Weisz on March 24, 1874 in Budapest.
His family moved to the USA and Ehrich sold newspapers and shined shoes to help support the family.
He made his first stage appearance aged nine performing a trapeze act, billing himself “Ehrich, the Prince of the Air”.
He chose the stage name Harry Houdini by adding an “i” to the last name of his idol, French magician Robert Houdin.
He gained fame by repeatedly escaping from police handcuffs and jails and after making his name in America, toured Europe, where he escaped from straitjackets and coffins.
In the 1920s, Harry became interested in the occult when his training in magic helped him expose fraudulent mediums.
Houdini died in 1926 aged 52 of a ruptured appendix after suffering a blow to the abdomen by university student J. Gordon Whitehead.
