Anthony Martin, a Wisc. escape artist, freed himself from shackles while skydiving in a coffin Tuesday, a stunt he performed for the first time 25 years ago.


SERENA, Illinois (AP) — A Wisconsin daredevil parachuted gently into field Tuesday after managing to free himself from shackles and a locked coffin while plummeting through the air.

Anthony Martin waved to the cameras and the crowd that turned out to watch his stunt after he landed in Serena, Illinois, about 70 miles (112 kilometers) southwest of Chicago.

After being dragged from a plane at about 14,500 feet (4,400 meters) up, the coffin whipped wildly from side-to-side with Martin inside. One of the two skydivers who were steadying the box was hit in the face, but everyone landed safely.


Martin, who is from Wisconsin, began studying the art of escape at age 6 after his father shattered his early fascination with magic by explaining the trickery behind a floating pen illusion.








The box was dragged from the plane and two skydivers helped stabilize it by holding handles on its side while a drogue similar to the parachutes used to slow drag-racing cars and fighter jets further steadied it.



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