VIDEO: Southsea magician completes stunning straitjacket escape at the Spinnaker Tower

Dan hanging from the Spinnaker Tower after successfully escaping the straitjacket

IT WAS a feat that most daring magicians would not even contemplate.

But today, Southsea’s Dan Churchley accomplished the trick of a lifetime after he escaped from a straitjacket while dangling on to the viewing platform of the Spinnaker Tower.

Hanging upside down 100m above sea level, the 29-year-old wrestled off the jacket in an inspiring time of one minute and 51 seconds.

He told The News: ‘I really can’t imagine myself doing anything that crazy again.

‘From the start, just getting out there at that height and knowing what I had to do, it was incredibly daunting, uncomfortable and a lot tougher than I expected.

‘I really felt the wind in my face and I started swaying outwards.

‘Once I had managed to get the first arm out, I knew that I was going to do it.

‘I think I’m most relieved to be standing on the ground again. This is something I will always remember but I’m very happy to be standing here than up there again!’

Dan Churchley in his strat jacket before the stunt

The 29-year-old undertook the death-defying task to raise funds for cancer charity Clic Sargent – which provides support to children and young people with cancer across the country.

Dan chose the charity as his close friend Dan Bryant passed away back in February 2010 due to cancer.

He is hoping to raise £1,000 through the stunt, adding: ‘It is such an important charity that is very dear to me and I was really keen to do something to help them out.

‘I would not have been able to put this together without the support of the charity and those at the tower for allowing me to do this.’

A crowd gathered in the viewing platform to watch Dan complete the mind-boggling feat while dozens cheered him on from below.

He said: ‘Despite all the wind, I could hear their support so it meant the world to me when I was out there. It helped me push on and complete it.’

Liz Blunt, fundraising manager for the charity’s Hampshire division said: ‘I am amazed at what Dan’s achieved today.

‘It was such a stunning thing to do and we cannot thank Dan enough for all his hard work and raising awareness of us.’

Head to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/daniel-churchley to donate.