Extreme Escape Artist Attempts Guinness World Record At Cornwall Jail

Steve Santini loves to escape things – handcuffs, shackles, straight jackets, prisons, jails, ancient restraints ….. He has performed thousands of escapes all over the world. He also has an interest in historical sites, which led him to the Historic Cornwall Jail last year where he performed two escapes – one from a cell and the other from the gallows. His escapes are often multi layered, wearing handcuffs and shackles, and a straight jacket, inside a cell with 3 different chains and locks. Many are death defying and extremely dangerous, always performed in full view of media and audience members, hence the title Extreme Escape Artist.

This time around Steve will be attempting to set an official Guinness World Record with the fastest escape from a set of handcuffs and, while blindfolded. There are specific regulations put forth by the Guinness Records people to ensure the World Record. Police must be on hand to ensure the handcuffs are regulation, an Optometrist must check the blindfold to ensure that he cannot see, etc.

On Friday, April 23rd, 2010, Santini will make his world record escape inside the Historic Cornwall Jail Exercise Yard. A limited number of tickets for this special event are now on sale at the Jail. Ticket holders will be granted admission beginning at 1:30 pm to tour the jail, with Santini’s escape set for 3:00 pm. All tickets are $5.00 (taxes included).

Steve Santini has always displayed a fascination with human fears and human foibles. Today, he possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of the history of torture instruments and restraint devices from Medieval times to the present. His interest in the past developed into a passion for marine archeology and he became one of the world's leading experts on the Titanic disaster. Steve has been a consultant and historical advisor to numerous museums, auction houses, and film and television production companies, including James Cameron's Lightstorm Pictures during pre-production work on the blockbuster film, "Titanic."

Additionally, Santini has invented original restraint improvement devices currently in use by Police Departments and Prison Guards. He is currently involved with the National Museum of Crime and Punishment in Washington, D.C. He is the author of numerous articles on escapology and a number of books on the Titanic, and has earned the distinction of being named by Ripley's Believe It or Not! as "The World's Most Extreme Escape Artist."

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