From an early age David showed an inclination towards escapes, experimenting with ropechallenges when he was as young as seven, as well as spending hours in the library pouring over old books on circus sideshow stunts, restraints and the techniques employed by the escape artist of the early 20th Century.David's only failure came when he was just about 7 years old. During an attempt where heallowed his cousins to tie him to a chair with a length of rope borrowed from his uncles shed, his cousin tied the rope tightly around his neck, cutting the blood supply off to his brain and rendering him unconscious within seconds.
David's world record are listed and published by - The Guinness Book Of Records and the Alternative Book Of Records.
The Worlds Fastest Suspended Straitjacket Escape With Chains
In September 2006, on a live broadcast of one of the UK's most popular TV shows, The New Paul O'Grady Show. David set a brand new world record for the fastest escape from a straitjacket, while suspended and chained. With two representatives from Guinness on hand, and David was restrained, and winched high above the studio floor. Escaping in a time of 54 seconds.
The Worlds Fastest Underwater Handcuff Escape
In June 2005 David successfully set a new world record for the fastest underwater handcuff escape at the Clitheroe street festival. Using a set of Hiatt's Speedcuffs handcuffs brought to the event by a local police officer. After the usual searches and checks by recordofficials David had 3 attempts at escaping in record time.
The clock was started as soon as he vanished under the water, and stopped when he emerged free of the cuffs. The third, andFastest attempt produced a staggering world record time of just 4.25 seconds
The Big Record:
On January 8th 2005 David attempted to break three world records in just one day, at theArndale Centre, Manchester, UK. This was in aid of Save the Children and the Tsunami appeal. The event was a great success, raising almost £2000 for the charities and giving Save theChildren the opportunity to introduce hundreds of people to their campaigns. David's attempts at all three records were also successful. Details are below
The World's Fastest Straitjacket Escape:
David Straitjacket currently holds the world record for the fastest ever straitjacket escape. This was completed in a time of 81.24 seconds. Easily beating the target of 90 seconds. The Straitjacket used was a 'Posey' brand. If the above time seems slow to you, it is because you have never seen anyone escape from a Posey Straitjacket.
Unlike the jackets commonly used by magicians and street performers this jacket has a range of security features not found in any other Straitjacket. There are three extra loops holding the arms against the chest, special 'friction' buckles which are designed to be inoperable from inside the jacket, and much more. In short, a massive challenge for any escape artist, and one of the most devious medical restraints ever devised. Guinness will now only allow Straitjacket records attempted with this jacket, and no other.
The record took two attempts, the first failing to reach the target time of 90 seconds (with a time of 99 seconds), and leading to David dislocating his right shoulder. After a short pause for medical attention, David was given the medics permission for one further attempt, and set a new world record.
The World's Fastest Escape from Police Handcuffs:
This record was broken using a pair of police issue rigid Speedcuffs. At the time of the escape the current record was held by Stuart Burrell (UK) with a time of ten seconds. The cuffs were checked by three independent assessors, and although the rigid nature of the cuffs means that the keyhole cannot be reached by the restrained person, David and the curtain he would stand behind were nonetheless inspected for hidden keys. David successfully broke this record with a time of 7.25 seconds.
The World's Fastest Straitjacket Escape on Stilts:
For this record the same 'Posey' Straitjacket was used. But with a major, and potentially very dangerous new twist. He was precariously balanced on stilts at the time! No one else in the world has ever successfully freed themselves from this restraint while balancing on stilts, and the stunt carried with it the danger of falling, head first and unprotected onto the hard floor of the Arndale Centre.
David was not wearing any protective padding for the escape, nor were there any crash mats to land on. Falling while restrained in a Straitjacket meant that David would not be able to put his hands out or break his fall in any way. A very risky undertaking indeed! Apart from the pain in his previously injured shoulder and a very lucky (excuse the pun) escape after a fall on the first attempt, David was successful, and set a new world record of 98.71 seconds.
The Heaviest Person Stood on the Chest While Lying on Broken Glass:
In October 2005, at the East Lake Festival, Wuhan, China. David successfully withstood the weight of fellow world record holder, 151 kg Strongman, John Evans. David lay barebacked on a pile of 100 broken bottles with John stood on his chest. The weight of the 6 ft 2 inch,strongman grinding the broken bottles into his bare skin, and threatening to collapse his chest. To set the record David needed to withstand John's weight for a full ten seconds.
On the first attempt David was forced to ask John to step off after only 6 seconds, John's weight was simply too much for his chest to take. However, after a short break, a second attempt went ahead. This time David was able to bear John's weight for the full ten seconds. With his chest bruised, and his back sore, but not cut, David had set another Guinness World Record.
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