Escapologist and magician Chris Cross broke his personal best record on Sunday by escaping from a strait-jacket while suspended upside down 20ft above the ground outside the Assembly Rooms in Newcastle city centre. The stunt, which drew a crowd of over 200 people, marked 10 years since he first performed the escape and also commemorated 100 years since the death of legendary escapologist Harry Houdini.
Record-Breaking Performance
The UK Escape Artists Club (UKEA) challenged Cross to beat his previous record of 1 minute 30 seconds, which he had set at Newcastle Castle a decade ago. Cross successfully escaped in 1 minute and 19.58 seconds, shaving over 10 seconds off his best time. Speaking to ChronicleLive after the event, Cross said: "I managed to get out in one minute and 19.58 seconds. So I've rose to the challenge. I haven't done this stuff for 10 years and it's not the kind of thing you can just practise, so I was over the moon that I've managed to have belief in my own abilities and completed it successfully."
Last-Minute Venue Change
The event was originally scheduled to take place at Newcastle Castle but was moved at the last minute. The Assembly Rooms stepped in to host the event free of charge. Cross praised the venue, saying: "The Assembly Rooms stepped in very last minute and hosted the event completely free of charge. They were absolutely brilliant. We put on a good show, everyone had a great day."
Crowd and Special Guests
More than 200 people attended the free event, which Cross described as a gift to the people of the North East, paid for by himself and sponsors. Notable guests included singer-songwriter Liam Fender, who served as the official time-keeper, and Chris Beatty, star of the film Purely Belter, who tied Cross into the strait-jacket. Cross added: "The sun was shining, the people were smiling and the magician did good."
Significance of the Stunt
The escape also paid tribute to Harry Houdini, who died 100 years ago. Cross expressed his delight at successfully pulling off the stunt, saying: "It was great to put this escapology stunt together. Over 200 people turned up to watch Chris Cross the great magician of the North dangling upside down, by his ankles, 20ft high in the air, escaping from a straight jacket, and I actually beat my record as well."
