Escape artist sets record with midair stunt

AN escapologist yesterday set a new world record after breaking free from a straitjacket while suspended upside down from a burning rope — 160ft above a city centre.

Hundreds of onlookers cheered as Shahid Malik completed his Houdini-style midair stunt before being lowered to the ground by an 80-ton crane in Glasgow, Scotland.

It took the 49-year-old just under three minutes to wriggle free.

After a short break, Mr Malik, who was born in Pakistan but now lives in Bradford, escaped from a padlocked sack in a small, wooden crate suspended above the ground, a stunt that had never been attempted before. He now holds three world records and yesterday’s burning rope attempt surpassed the previous height benchmark of 120ft.

Mr Malik already held two world records, one for escaping from a straitjacket while suspended from a helicopter 1,800ft above the ground and the other for the fastest escape from a regulation straitjacket.

Before yesterday’s event in George Square, event sponsors Opal Telecom and Glasgow City Council each donated a £1,000 cheque to the Cash For Kids appeal. The tension beforehand was not helped by the DJ’s ominous decision to play the Westlife hit, The Last Goodbye.

The crowd were then told three escapologists had been killed performing similar stunts in the last 15 years.

The sun shone brightly as Mr Malik, who was wearing a black vest with a Superman logo, was raised, suspended from a four-foot burning rope. He shook his body from side to side at the top of the crane before throwing off his straitjacket.

As he was lowered, he untied a rope around his ankles and acknowledged the applause.

The second stunt was performed minutes later and involved Mr Malik escaping from within a sack which was contained in a small, wooden crate. He burst free after just over 90 seconds.