Houdini stunt on the cards

2:16pm Thursday 3rd May 2007

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The mother of a Preston magician who is undertaking a dangerous stunt to raise money for a local charity, is worried that he is risking his life.

Andrew Green, a former performing arts student at Preston College, is embarking on the famous Houdini water torture chamber stunt in aid of St Catherine Hospice.

He said: "I wanted it to be on local turf, and something for local people, so the hospice was an ideal charity to raise funds for, as it is a very community based organisation."

The 30-year-old magician, who has travelled the world with his tricks and treats, hopes to raise a large sum for the centre, which provides palliative care for people who suffer from life-threatening illnesses.

His mother, Pauline Green, said: "He mentioned it a few months ago and I thought he'd forget about it, but he hasn't and I'm not keen at all.

"He could really be risking his life.

"I suppose I've just got to keep thinking he'll be okay. After all, it's his job to perform these types of tricks."

Andrew, who lives in Strand Road, Ashton, Preston, with his girlfriend Ria Gallagher, will be performing the escape using a tank from a museum in Wakefield. A date hasn't yet been fixed.

The stunt, made famous by Harry Houdini, a Hungarian-American magician, escapologist and stunt performer, consists of locking a magician in a tank of water, while hanging upside down. The expert illusionist, who has already begun training for the stunt, added: "I've still got to sort out the health and safety aspect of the Houdini trick, and if it's not feasible then I won't do it, so I can reassure my mum if it does happen it will be safe."