Curtis Lovell escapes death on Halloween

Nov. 2, 2008 - PRLog -- International escape artist Curtis Lovell II successfully  escaped being buried alive on Halloween evening.  The event was part of the Halloween Haunt in Pico Part in the City of Grand Terrace, California. 

Lovell's feat echoed an escape by the great Harry Houdini.  In 1926, Houdini was shackled and lowered into a grave.  Dirt was poured onto him.  When he escaped alive, he vowed never to attempt such a stunt again.  He died on Halloween 1926, this time not returning from his grave.

More than 1500 Halloween Haunt visitors watched Lovell  recreate the Houdini stunt.  Lovell was cuffed and shackled by Deputy Vaca, then placed into a pine coffin with a plexiglass front.  Some 200 pounds of dirt were shoveled onto Lovell's "grave." 
 
About 10 minutes into the stunt, Lovell's hand appeared, reaching out of the coffin.  The lid of the coffin open slightly several times.  Then, 16 minutes into the stunt, Lovell pushed up the lid, climbed out of the coffin and held up the empty handcuffs and shackles.  He was greeted by a well-deserved round of applause.
During the escape, audience members and city officials grew worried that Lovell might not be able to free himself.  Said Acting City Manager Steve Berry, “I was worried; things took longer than I thought.”

Audience member Leticia Vinchuk, of Highland, California, said, "When his hand was digging dirt out, I was worried."
 
"It was great, very interesting," said onlooker Janet Acevedo, of Grand Terrace.  "I was sort of hoping he would get out." Afterward, Lovell described what happened during the stunt. 
 
“The air in the coffin was getting thick.  I started to sweat and was worried," he said.  "I could barely slip my hand out of the coffin to figure out the combination lock that was connected to the chain and the lid.”  He added he now understands more clearly why Houdini never wanted to do the stunt again.

Lovell told local media outlets that he is already planning his next escape.  It will be centered around art and magic and will take more than 24 hours to accomplish.

To view a photo gallery and video of this stunt please visit www.CurtisLovell.com.

More about Lovell:

Lovell cut Paris Hilton in half on the television show The Simple Life and explained how to escape from handcuffs on Spike TV’s Manswers.  He has publicly challenged David Blaine and noted psychic John Edward to magic duels.  Lovell also appeared on the USA network Road Characters, on which he presented his Cube of Death – an effect similar to the feat Houdini once performed.
 
Lovell appeared in the instructional DVD, POOF! You're a magician ~Learn magic with everyday objects, which can be found at major online retailers including Barnes & Nobles.com  and  POOFyoureamagician.com.
 
Lovell was raised in Columbus, Ohio, where he attended Columbus Public Schools and Columbus State College. He now resides in Long Beach, California, living his childhood dream as an escape artist.

Websites:
www.CurtisLovell.com
www.POOFyoureamagician.com

For interviews and photos: 877.224.9568.