i thought i would share this with the forum, An article from the local paper:

World's Greatest Escape Artist Will Attempt a Death-defying Escape Encased in Wet Cement to Commemorate Houdini's Death on Halloween

Winnipeg, Canada Oct. 24, 2006: This Halloween will mark the 80th anniversary of the death of Harry Houdini. To commemorate this memorable day the "World's Greatest Escape Artist", Dean Gunnarson, will attempt a dangerous and death-defying escape.

On Oct. 31, 2006 at exactly 1:26 P.M. Gunnarson will be handcuffed with several pairs of police handcuffs. The handcuffs will then be chained and padlocked around his waist, entire body and even tightly around his neck. Dean will then be placed upright into a standing Plexiglas tomb and the lid will then be locked with 6 maximum security padlocks. Gunnarson will then add an element of danger that has Never Been Attempted!

Two Tons of Wet Cement will then be poured into the clear tomb on top of Gunnarson until he is totally encased in this concrete prison. Dean will have to escape before he is crushed and suffocated by the sheer weight of the cement he is encased in. This escape has never been attempted by anyone, anywhere in the world!!! Not even by the Great Houdini himself. This escape will be attempted with NO curtains or anything else that will try to conceal his attempt to escape. You will witness the entire life and death struggle by Gunnarson as he tries to free himself. This is not a magic trick or an illusion. All the handcuffs, chains, and locks are genuine.



Date: October 31, 2006 Halloween

Time: 1:00 pm: Gunnarson gets locked up.

1:26 pm exactly: Escape attempt begins


Location: 100 Cole Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba (Near Nairn Bridge over pass) In the Parking compound of Two Small Men With Big Hearts Moving Company

I know of two escape artists who have poured conrete on to their "coffin" for an escape very similar. one died the other barely made it.

I hope you tested to see how long your "coffin" can withstand that much weight.

and are you leaving your "coffin" upright? usually most people lay them horizontally. but good luck.

oh no its not me doing it, I’m a Children’s magician

Dean is one of the best in the world, if anyone can do it, its him. I agree that it would be much more risky if it was to be horizontal.

I really havent ever heard of dean. I guess i will do some looking in to him and his escapes.

Here is a link to a bit of information on him.

http://www.eventsedge.com/DeanGunnarson.html

and

http://www.alwaysescaping.com/

Oh man. Im here in Ottawa where nothing happens. Anyway i hope there is a video put up somewhere after

Dean is an excellent escapologist. As I recall, he studied under Randi.

On a tangent, ever notice how many 'world's greatest escape artists' there are?

I wish I lived in Canada. To bad he doesn't come to Colorado. If he does PM me someone.

I like the idea, but as DavidtheCryptic said, it's not that original. I hope he gets out safe though.

there are way to many. I can think of at least 4.

you live in colorado to? what town?

The escape went well. Dean was handcuffed and wrapped with chains. He was then lifted up and placed into a water torture cell. This was then filled with cement completely submerging him in it. It took Dean approx 2 min. to finally burst through the lid. It was a pretty decent escape although my personal belief is it was a fairly "safe" escape.

That's a lot different from what I was expecting it to be. I've personally never heard of anything like that. But I would think that it was actually quite safe. A lot safer then actually being buried alive.

Glamour Boy. Stick to your Children’s Party's !!! How old are you ????
Anyone that has a brain realizes that a person encased in over 2 tons of cement is dangerous. Especially in front of a live audience and or media watching. Add chains, handcuffs, locks, cement burns, etc..... This was an accident waiting to happen !
Glamour Boy, it is people like you who get people hurt with there lack of insight, inexperience, and knowledge......... Ask any construction worker that has ever worked with concrete !!!!
Stay away from what you don't KNOW !!!!

I'm sure Dean did not do this 'blindly'; as a seasoned pro, I'm sure he had his safety angles worked out in detail.