A live studio audience and millions of viewers across the United Kingdom were left mortified when a professional escape artist ran into troubles while performing on popular reality show Britain’s Got Talent.
Contestant Matt Johnson, who’s talent was trying to remove himself from life-threatening situations, found himself in trouble earlier this week when it was his turn to take to the stage on the Simon Cowell talent show.
“What you are about to see is extremely dangerous and should not be attempted under any circumstances” he told the audience. “I can only describe the position I’m about to put myself in as hell on earth.”
Johnson could be seen making his way into a trap before explaining to the audience and judges Cowell, Amanda Holden, David Walliams and Alesha Dixon exactly what was happening.
“I am being locked into a solid steel straight jacket secured with padlocks,” he said. “The jacket will be clamped shut around my chest. That alone makes it difficult to breathe.”
He then explained that a clear box would be placed over his head and secured around his neck with further padlocks. If that wasn’t enough, chains would then be wrapped around Johnson’s body, he’d be handcuffed and the box on his head would be filled with water. The aim of the act was for Johnson to use a single lock pick to make his escape.
He described it as one of the “most dangerous escapes ever performed”, something he’d know all too well about in a matter of moments. He told the crowd he’d be in serious trouble if he was without breath for one minute and 45 seconds.
As the clock began to tick, Johnson could be seen attempting to free himself from the trap he’d placed himself in. First, he unlocked the cuffs around his arms, much to the delight of the studio audience.
Next, he removed the straight jacket and then attempted to remove the water-filled box on his head.
As the crucial one minute and 45 seconds mark passed, Johnson struggled to remove the box, as paramedics could be seen making their way to the stage. The clock continued to tick and Johnson could be seen gesturing for help. Paramedics handed him a metal pole, which he used to escape.
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The judges looked mortified as the audience cheered when Johnson released himself. In total, it took him two minutes and 21 seconds to escape the trap.Viewers watching at home slammed the act and said it made for uncomfortable viewing.
One person on Twitter wrote: “I have zero interest in watching an act like Matt Johnson. I just don’t find this entertaining. It’s uncomfortable viewing”.
Another message read: “I genuinely hate acts like what Matt Johnson does, not that it’s not amazing, but it makes me panic so hard I literally can’t watch I’M SORRY I DON’T WANT YOU TO DIE”.
A third voiced their concern that Johnson could have been seriously injured and that dangerous acts shouldn’t be allowed on the show.
The clip has already been viewed close to 1.5 million times online in addition to the millions who tuned in across Britain. He’s certainly no Susan Boyle.
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