Fatal Stunt: Magician Drowns Attempting Underwater Escape Trick

Kolkata police have recovered the body of a magician who drowned after an unsuccessful attempt at an underwater escape stunt in River Hooghly, according to a media report.

The deceased has been identified as Chanchal Lahiri (35), a Kolkata-based magician.

Police said the magician, popularly known as ‘Mandrake’ Lahiri, was attempting to imitate legendary Hungarian magician Harry Houdini who was best known for his ‘water torture cell’ acts when he went missing on Sunday, according to a report in Quint.

Kolkata police, along with the Disaster Management Group, immediately began a search for him. Lahiri’s body was later fished out from the river on Monday.

According to reports, Lahiri had taken permission from both police and the Kolkata Port Trust for the “risky and complicated” trick.

“Lahiri had mentioned the act was to happen in a boat or vessel, and there was no connection with water. Hence, we allowed him. However, he vaguely mentioned an ‘extra act’ which he did not clarify. We are investigating,” a senior police officer said.