Darcy Oake pulls off 'most death-defying' act to date at London's New Year's Day parade

Canadian illusionist Darcy Oakerangin 2016 with a "death-defying escape"at London's New Year's Day parade.

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Oake, who was born and raised in Winnipeg, pulled off what he calls "literally the most death-defying escape that I've ever done or ever attempted"at the end of the 30th annual parade, performing forhundreds of thousands of spectators in the U.K.

Before bringing to life the parade's theme 30 years of magic Oakeexplained how he would escape and avoid drowning.

'I have to hold my breath... or it could go horrendously wrong.'

Darcy Oake explains his death-defying stunt

9 years ago

Duration 0:46

Canadian illusionist previews his Houdini-style trick ahead of London's New Year's Day Parade

His wrists were shackled and hishead waslocked in a glass box filled with water...

...then the contraption, with Oake locked inside it, was lifted for all to see.

He then had to pick three locks, all by feel.

All in, the escape tookovertwo-and-a-half minutes...

...during which the crowd was quietwhile Oake appeared tostruggle.

Eventually, he managed to free himself and get a gasp of air.

Oake, 28, shot to stardom in the United Kingdom in the spring of 2014 when he impressed the judges and audience on the televised talent competitionBritain's Got Talent,becoming the first illusionist to make it to the finals in the show's history.