Terrifying moment magician almost drowns in glass box when death-defying

Famed illusionist Criss Angel and escape artist Spencer Horsman were at the State Theater in New Brunswick to promote Angel’s “The Supernaturalists” magic tour.

According to the Asbury Park Press, Horsman had been attempting to replicate a trick based on Harry Houdini’s “Water Torture Cell” ahead of the stage shows at the State Theatre this weekend.

“First he was chained around his neck and arms, with handcuffs around his arms and legs”, Handel said, adding that the only objects Horsman was able to take into the box with him were a rubber band and a bent piece of wire – presumably to unlock the bars and cuffs. Back in April, he fell unconscious in a water tank during a Criss Angel performance at Foxwoods.

Horsman had previously appeared on the NBC television program “America’s Got Talent”.

A cage-screen door, consisting of a metallic grid, reinforced by metal rods, was lowered on top of Horsman.

After more than minutes trapped in the box, and four out of six padlocks picked, Horsman dropped one of the two picks that he had, resulting in the trick being aborted. A lid was then put on the box, the chamber was lifted into the air by a crane, and he was given two and a half minutes to escape. A crane suspending the tank lowered the device and EMTs dragged Horsman out, nj.com said. He was then transported by ambulance to a local hospital.

It wasn’t the first time the stunt went wrong. He was conscious at the time, and waved at the cheering and relieved crowd. EMS treated him and was brought to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where his condition was unknown Tuesday afternoon.

The police that assisted at the scene claimed that Criss had told them Horsman’s transport to the hospital was all “part of the act”, but Angel himself quickly dispelled these claims in a news release.

The Supernaturalists, described as “unprecedented and historic” by Angel, consists of nine different performers from around the world. Tickets for the event can be found on the State Theater’s website.