A Chilliwack man turned in one of the most spectacular nail-biting moments in the history of America害羞草研究所檚 Got Talent.

Matt Johnson appeared on the hit television show Tuesday night (June 8), walking out onto the stage to be judged by Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara, Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum and a few million viewers.

The 47-year-old is world-renowned illusionist/escapeologist who has previously appeared on Britain害羞草研究所檚 Got Talent, Penn and Teller害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所楩ool Us害羞草研究所� and The Late Late Show.

Before launching into his audition, Johnson was asked by Mandel if he was married, and what his wife thought of his dangerous occupation.

害羞草研究所淢y wife actually asked me to stop doing it because of something that happened just a year ago, and I害羞草研究所檝e not done it since,害羞草研究所� he explained. 害羞草研究所淚 was working on a dangerous escape and I actually hung myself and drowned at the same time, and I ended up in the ER.害羞草研究所�

But Johnson told the judges he couldn害羞草研究所檛 handle being away from his passion, and he was there to 害羞草研究所渇ace his fears and prove that he could do it again.害羞草研究所�

Whether out of honesty or showmanship, Johnson added that he害羞草研究所檇 tried the trick he was about to perform only once, in rehearsal the day before.

害羞草研究所淚 didn害羞草研究所檛 pay attention at school, so this is what I do for a living,害羞草研究所� he laughed as the audience and judges gasped.

Over the next 112 seconds Johnson was strapped into a straight-jacket and hung by his ankles upside down, attached to a device with two massive circular saw blades spinning at 2000 revolutions per minute.

害羞草研究所淚 have to get myself out, the right way up and get my ankles free to escape before the saw falls,害羞草研究所� he said to a silent theatre. 害羞草研究所淚f not, I害羞草研究所檓 going to literally be cut in two.害羞草研究所�

With Vergara and host Terry Crews shouting 害羞草研究所楬urry up!害羞草研究所� and Cowell rendered speechless, Johnson succeeded in wrestling his way out of the straight jacket and righting himself a split second before the saws fell. The crowd erupted with a standing ovation and judges were on their feet.

害羞草研究所淎nyone who puts himself in this position, the trouble is things go wrong, and that could have been catastrophic,害羞草研究所� Cowell said after catching his breath. 害羞草研究所淏ut you are brilliant. Brilliant. Respect.害羞草研究所�

Johnson got four yes votes from the judges and moves on to the next round of America害羞草研究所檚 Got Talent. Over 110 thousand people have already checked out his audition on YouTube.

eric.welsh@theprogress.com
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