Escapologist sets world record

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An escapologist has 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 mid-air stunt in just under three minutes before being lowered to the ground by an 80 ton crane in Glasgow.

After a short break, the 49-year-old, who lives in Bradford, escaped from a padlocked sack in a small, wooden crate suspended 100ft above the ground - a stunt that had never been attempted before.

The burning rope attempt surpassed the previous height benchmark of 120ft.

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.

Prior to his latest challenge in George Square, event sponsors Opal Telecom and Glasgow City Council each donated a £1,000 cheque to the Cash For Kids appeal.

The crowd were then told three escapologists - two Americans and a Briton - had been killed performing similar stunts in the last 15 years.

They were also informed that Malik had twice been injured while trying to carry out the feat and, on one occasion, was hospitalised after falling 75ft.

Malik, who was wearing a black vest with a Superman logo, was raised 164ft - suspended from a 4ft burning rope.

The second stunt saw Malik escape from within a sack inside a wooden crate, in just over 90 seconds.
 
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