He luckily escaped with his life after failing in a buried alive stunt.
Now a Huddersfield escapologist is set to attempt his first stunt since that bizarre adventure.
Linthwaite daredevil Antony Britton became only the third person in history to attempt the death-defying escape last September.
And despite almost losing his life, he’s back for another dangerous escapade.
Antony said he was lucky to be alive after losing consciousness during the stunt at the Escape For Life event in Slaithwaite when he was handcuffed and buried in a standard-sized grave under six feet of soil.
He had to be hauled out unconscious by crew members after he failed to break through to the surface almost nine minutes into the escape bid.
He was given oxygen before coming round and also sustained a cracked rib.
Announcing plans for his next escape bid, Antony said: “I don’t give up that easily. I may have brushed shoulders with the Grim Reaper last September, but he’ll have to work a lot harder than that to get me.”
Antony’s next stunt will see him attempt to escape from a straitjacket while suspended from three burning ropes 50 ft above the ground (inset). The attempt will be made on Saturday, July 2, at a private function to be held in Paddock .
Said Antony: “To say I’m nervous is an understatement. This is my first real test since the accident.
“Buried Alive took a lot out of me, not just physically but mentally.
“The body is an amazing machine and it heals pretty quickly, but the mind is a different matter altogether.
“I know a lot of people won’t understand why I want to keep going and probably think I’m mad, but this is what I do.
“It’s who I am. Just as a surfer has to surf and a skydiver has to skydive, I’ve got to do these stunts. I did them long before people started taking notice of what I do and I’ll still be doing them long after they stop taking notice.”
He added: “I’ve worked hard these past nine months on regaining my fitness and battling with those mental demons.
“But I’ve come out the other side. Part of what I do is about conquering fear.
“If I didn’t get back in the saddle, I’d have truly failed last September. But it hasn’t beaten me. Britton is back.”
Antony has been fascinated with escapology since the age of six when his grandfather entertained him with stories of Harry Houdini.
Performing since his teens, Antony has picked his way out of handcuffs, locks and shackles and even extricated himself from a wooden crate laced with explosives and chains.
Check out Anthony’s July 2 escape bid online at www.facebook.com/antonybritton .
