Escapologist is no Houdini after his act goes wrong and he is hospitalised

Daredevil Anthony Britton was wriggling out of a straight jacket suspended by burning rope which he wrongly timed - forgetting about high winds speeding up the flames.

The bungling stunt is the latest of errors, after the magician previously burnt himself performing the same trick.

Crowds watched in horror as the escapologist from Huddersfield plummeted to the ground when ropes snapped quicker than he planned, dislocating his shoulder and burning his chest as flame-drenched ropes landed round him.

The stunt was meant to be the highlight of an event in nearby Bradford, and had been organised by the bungling performer himself.

Mr Britton said he suffered a few “technical difficulties” during the act.

“The ropes burned through too quickly. I can usually count on 60 seconds before the first rope burns through, but it was more like 45 seconds, which was too fast.

“The second rope went after 60 seconds and the third would have been another 30 seconds before that burned through.”

He added; “I had to ‘pop’ my right shoulder to get free more quickly and the safety team were all for lowering me before I’d got out of the straitjacket, but I was determined I was going to do it.”

It follows a close shave with death in 2012, when one of the burning ropes he was suspended from snapped and set his pants on fire.

The Escape for Life event was planned to raise money for a multi-plesclerosis charity.

Friend Mark Walker said: “I have known Anthony for many years and I always said he had a screw loose, but Escape for Life hits the awareness hard and gets the message across loud and clear.”

The daredevil added he was already planning his next stunt event.