Escapologist Antony Britton pulled off a death-defying escape from a burning cage – with seconds to spare.

Antony, of Linthwaite, was padlocked and chained into the solid steel cage before it was set alight.

But Antony’s daring escape bid – in front of 500 people – didn’t go according to plan as the wind suddenly changed direction, with flames catching him as he was about to break free.

Antony took centre stage at the Escape for Life show in Centenary Square, Bradford, on Saturday.

The free event, including live music, was organised to raise money for Help for Heroes.

Antony, an experienced professional escape artist, was hooded and chained with seven shackles secured by 11 padlocks.

He was then fastened inside an 8ft steel cage – dubbed Lucifer’s Chamber – and then given 90 seconds before three fuses were lit.

As the cage was engulfed in flames, Antony had just minutes to free himself.

Antony’s escape took about four minutes but as he was about to release the last padlock, the wind changed direction.

“It was a scary moment,” said Antony. “My left arm caught fire and there were flames on my left upper leg, pushing onto my left hand.

“That cost me vital seconds as I needed my left hand and I struggled with the last padlock.”

Antony, though, released the lock and escaped with nothing worse than minor cuts and “some slight scorching.”

He added: “Put it this way there was a bit of singeing and I won’t need my arms waxing!”

Yesterday morning Antony was a little hoarse as the heat and smoke had affected his vocal chords.

Antony Britton gasps for breath after escaping Lucifer's Cage in Centenary Square in Bradford.
Antony Britton gasps for breath after escaping Lucifer's Cage in Centenary Square in Bradford.

“Once the fire is lit you have to hold your breath,” he said.

“If you breathe you will singe your lungs. It’s like if you were underwater.

“If you breathe underwater you are going to drown. If you breathe in fire you will breathe in flames.”

Antony, who has completed various escapes before, such as being suspended in a straitjacket by a burning rope 50ft above the River Calder in Wakefield, denied he was mad.

“Escapology is the art of entertainment. It’s about pushing the boundaries,” he said.

“Just because you are in a seemingly impossible situation doesn’t mean you can’t get out of it.”

Antony has been a fan of escapology since hearing his grandfather talk of the great Harry Houdini.

So is it a trick? Antony isn’t giving much away.

“It’s not an illusion and it’s not magic,” he said.

“It is dangerous and there are elements that can go wrong but that’s what we do.”