INLSA
Internationally renowned illusionist Wayne Houchin and his wife Fran performing Africas first ever dual upside down straitjacket escape while hanging 25m above the ground at the V&A Waterfront. Pictures: Leon Lestrade.
The record for an upside-down escape attempt, set 87 years ago by the legendary Harry Houdini, was smashed yesterday – in Cape Town.
Hanging suspended by their ankles 25m above the V&A Waterfront, American couple Wayne Houchin, 29, and his wife Frania, 26, took the record time of two minutes and 12 seconds to free themselves from their straitjackets.
Escape artist Houdini set the original record of three minutes in 1925, suspended from a crane used to build the New York City subway.
The Houchins, who hail from Chico in California, trumped hundreds of escape artists who have, over the decades, attempted to beat Houdini’s time. And yesterday marked not only a new record, but also marked the first time the feat had been attempted on the African continent.
Wayne said afterwards: “It was absolutely amazing and frightening at the same time. This has been our first attempt at the record, and to do it is just amazing.”
He added that while his attempt to break the record had been a long time in the planning, his wife had surprised him with her decision to join in, since she is terrified of heights.
Frania said: “This was such a big personal challenge for me as I am terrified of heights. I could not even go on the big wheel here at the Waterfront.”
The couple began the attempt by strapping themselves into straitjackets. They were then strapped by the ankles to hooks on two different cranes, before being hoisted 25m into the air.
Once in position, the clock began to tick. And a small crowd watched their wriggling bodies overhead.
Yesterday’s soaring temperatures added to the drama, with the straitjackets upping the body temperatures of the two.
Wayne said: “We practised at home by hanging ourselves from a very low height just to get used to hanging upside down.”
“This helped us today, yet at this height there are psychological problems with looking down and seeing how high you actually are.”
The pair are in SA to attend the SA National Magic Championships, taking place today and tomorrow at Artscape. The event is among a series of similar events across the world aimed at identifying various countries’ best magicians. The winners will take part in the world championships, set to take place in Blackpool in England in July. – Junior Bester
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Couple smash Houdini’s escape record