Daredevil turns into human FIREBALL to break world record in front of stunned crowd
BLAZING footage of a self-proclaimed stunt man dousing himself in petrol before being alight in a crazy attempt to beat a world record, has been posted online.
Human FIREBALL shocks crowd in world record attempt
A 2,000-strong crowd was left gobsmacked on Bonfire Night after Anthony Britton let the flames swallow him for a whole minute before collapsing to the ground.
The daredevil miraculously escaped the risky stunt with only minor injuries after emergency crew with fire extinguishers rushed to his aid.
Britton performed the stunt to break the world record of the longest distance covered by a burning man - and succeeded.
Wearing anti-burn barrier gel, three pairs of overalls, balaclavas and boots, the Linthwaite daredevil managed to run 181.2m while cloaked in flames.
Anthony Britton let the flames swallow him for a whole minute
Mr Britton, said: "It was frightening. I had a lot of mixed feelings before I started. I was scared, but excited.
"I stood there looking down the field and it was like staring into the abyss.
"Then they sprayed the fuel on me and I knew there was no turning back. When they lit the fuel I just ran. I had tunnel vision.
"I could see the flames but I was so focused on what I was doing.”
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When they lit the fuel I just ran
The flaming man decided to go for the world record after being encouraged by his reins to do “something” normal to raise money for charity.
However, Mr Britton landed on fire run at Wandle Park in Croydon.
The record-holder said:"Adrenaline keeps you going. Every step was painful, but in a way you don't feel it because there is so much adrenaline.
"I twisted an ankle and almost fell. That's the British weather for you. It was slippery underfoot.
Fantastic finish to the year. And with a great audience in #croydon @MindCharity @HopeHouseKids https://t.co/HQHB03ku0l plz help get target pic.twitter.com/Sh12J92uHo
— Britton (@AntonyBritton) November 7, 2016
“I got as far as I possibly could. But at the 100m mark I turned my right ankle.
“I thought I’d gone down before the record. I asked how I’d done and they said: ‘You smashed it!’ I was ecstatic and the crowd was going berserk.”
The previous best was 161.27m set in 2013 by American stuntman Ted Batchelor and Mr Britton is now waiting for adjudicators from the Guinness Book of Records to confirm he is the new champion.