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Keith's bid to enter the record books
The weather is set to reach scorching temperatures this week – but Keith Malcolm will be feeling the heat more than most.
The 39-year-old hopes to smash a world record for setting himself on fire and walking more than 200 feet while engulfed in a ball of flames.
The amateur stuntman, of Oakhurst Gardens, Widley, will burn at more than 1,500 degrees fahrenheit as he attempts the feat for charity at the Alton & North East Hampshire Agricultural Show on Sunday.
Mr Malcolm, who works full-time as an NHS nurse, said he's confident he can break the record of running 227ft after taking up the bizarre hobby last year.
'I'm working with professionals and I've done it a few times. I have complete faith and confidence in the team I am doing it with that we can do it.'
Mr Malcolm did a fire run at Tadley show last month and was about 40ft away from breaking the record when he fell over.
'I tripped and lost all momentum, I was so close to making it,' he said.
The daredevil was first introduced to the stunt world as a keen amateur photographer.
'I'm a typical bloke and I like my action films and big budget stunts. I had set up my own photography company and I was at a stunt show when I met Mark Stannage, a professional stuntman for more than 30 years. He invited me into the arena to take a few photos and then I started doing that regularly.
'I'll never forget when one day he turned to me and said one day he'll set me on fire a little bit. I was like "what do you mean a little bit?".'
From then on Mr Malcolm has taken his place as a 'fire- run' act alongside the Stannage International Stunt Team when they tour in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
The act is the main event on Sunday at the Alton & North East Hampshire Agricultural Show at Froyle Park Showground, near Alton. Mr Malcolm is attempting the world record at 12.40pm and hopes to raise hundreds of pounds for a cancer charity.
'It's going to be incredible. How often do you get to see a world record attempt so close to home?,' he said.
IT AIN'T HALF HOT MUM
Stuntman Keith will be wearing eight layers of fire proof protective clothing for the explosive feat at 12.40pm on Sunday.
The professional crew will douse the 39-year-old in petrol before setting him alight.
He has to then walk further than 227 feet to break the current fire-run record held by Mark Stannage.
He will be wearing:
- Four layers of fireproof undergarments, a Formula One fireproof jacket and three overalls.
- Three fire hoods and a helmet.
- Special protective 'stunt gel' from America to cover his body and clothes to ensure he doesn't get scorched by the intense flames.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North west
