Magician - Escape Artist Rehearsal Turns Into A Real Rescue

June 20, 2008 - PRLog --  Los Angeles, California,  Escape artist Curtis Lovell II stared death in the face during an ocean rehearsal along the Long Beach coastline on June 14, 2008.
 
Lovell and two assistants were practicing a new stunt they intended to perform during an upcoming event.  Lovell was restrained with several police-regulation Smith & Wesson handcuffs and a pair of leg shackles before going about 50 yards into the ocean with assistant Racheal.
 
After going under water, Lovell did not resurface as expected.  Racheal was standing next to the performer and realized he was not touching the bottom of her foot as planned, so she began to look for him.  After a few moments, she realized a wave had pulled Lovell out to a rocky area.  He was spotted about 45 yards away, fighting the choppy water and the rocks.

Racheal and other bystanders were able to pull Lovell to shore.  The assistant's training in water rescue and CPR a week prior to the rehearsal is credited as a factor in saving his life.  He suffered scrapes and bruises, and his swim shorts were shredded by the rocks.

Two days, later Lovell's management received a message that bystander Joe  Mendez caught the rehearsal-turned-nightmare on his digital camera and forwarded the photos. 

Lovell's manger Justin M. stated that Lovell realizes the risk he takes as an escape artist.  "We, as his team, at all times keep safety in mind and try to eliminate many of the risk factors," he said. 
 
In 10 years of performing escape tricks involving water, this is the first time he has faced this type of problem during a rehearsal.  He has not announced whether he will attempt this escape in the near future. 

The photos have been published on www.MagicofCurtis.com under the “media” link section under photo gallery.

Direct links to downloadable photos:
http://web.mac.com/magicofcurtis/Magician_Los_Angeles_Cal...

and

http://web.mac.com/magicofcurtis/Magician_Los_Angeles_Cal...

For more information on Lovell please visit
www.MagicofCurtis.com

For interviews contact:

C.E.L.2 Productions
877.224.9568
Management@magicofCurtis.com

Website: www.magicofcurtis.com