Dynamo's final performance under his stage name was described as “truly spectacular” by fans after he was buried on live television on Thursday night.
The 40-year-old magician, whose real name is Steven Frayne, returned to TV screens for the first time since 2020 with new one-off show on Sky, Dynamo Is Dead.
Viewers watched with bated breath as Dynamo lay in an empty grave before five tonnes of earth was poured over him before “three vital minutes” began on the clock.
Two minutes and 47 seconds passed before the escape artist broke through the ground, gasping for air.
The commentary was overlaid on footage of Dynamo digging himself out of his own grave.
Dynamo's final performance under his stage name was described as “truly spectacular” by fans after he was buried on live television on Thursday night
The 40-year-old magician, whose real name is Steven Frayne, returned to TV screens for the first time since 2020 with new one-off show on Sky, Dynamo Is Dead
They said, “He did it.” The feat that Houdini failed to accomplish. And this is the first time anyone has managed to escape a funeral without a coffin.
“Steven Frayne, what a legend. 'That's incredible.'
Fans took to X – formerly known as Twitter – to praise Dynamo for the heartbreaking stunt.
They wrote: “I didn't really know who Dynamo was but thought I'd watch #DynamoIsDead tonight.” Really inspiring and a great clothing collection. I'm just glad he took off the stone jacket before he was buried alive!'
“Dynamo is being buried alive on live TV…that's crazy!!!” and “Anyone else with me saying #Dynamo is amazing and their honesty and bravery are inspiring!” Magic is real too.
“#DynamoIsDead is a heartwarming, relatable magical spectacle within a therapy session. Each trick has something to do with mental health, grief, addiction, disability, etc. and how difficult but important it is to find those who are in that exact situation “The same or similar situation and how difficult and how stressful it can be to find help out there and how hard but how special the recovery side of things is. A truly spectacular piece of television.”
While Dynamo impressed many viewers with the death-defying stunt, others branded it “staged trick nonsense.”
They wrote: “People really believe this staged trick nonsense.” Common” and “Just saw the end of the Dynamo program when he was buried alive.” Seems a bit suspicious that he came out just before the credits rolled and there was no drama and it was “Oh he's out” (sic).
They said, “He did it.” The feat that Houdini failed to accomplish. And this is the first time anyone has managed to escape a funeral without a coffin.
After being absent from the country's television screens for almost four years due to serious health problems, Dynamo made a comeback with Dynamo Is Dead
Fans took to X – formerly known as Twitter – to praise Dynamo for the heartbreaking stunt
In 1915, the great American escapologist Harry Houdini started the trend when he was buried six feet underground without a coffin.
However, as he tried to dig his way out, he panicked, and when his hand broke the surface, he was unconscious and had to be freed by his helpers.
British magician Alan Alan attempted the stunt again in 1949, but he too had to be rescued and was moments away from death when he finally emerged, shaken but alive.
Antony Britton tried in 2015 but also had to be rescued by rescuers. Photographers captured the moment his hand broke through the ground.
Illusionist David Blaine had more success with a variation of the stunt in 1999, in which he spent a week underground in a transparent coffin.
Dynamo revealed that the show is called “Dynamo Is Dead” as he believes it will be his “last performance” under his stage name as he feels the need to “move on.”
Earlier this week, Dynamo revealed his motivation behind the death-defying stunt, admitting he's had a difficult year following the death of his grandmother Nellie Walsh.
“She got me involved in magic and I felt like it had died with her. 'I had to bury the part of me that had died with her.'
Opening up about his mental health, he revealed: “When I came up with the idea [of being buried alive] I felt like I didn't have much to live for.
“But I realized that I have a lot to live for, that I have a lot more magic to give, and this is something I have to do for myself.”
While Dynamo impressed many viewers with the death-defying stunt, others branded it “staged trick nonsense.”
Of the dangerous stunt, Dynamo admitted: “I think it's one of the most dangerous things I've ever done.”
“I felt like the weight of the world was on me and I was living in the dark, and that sums it up.”
“It's nerve-wracking and really shows how scary this is now.” “I'm excited to see what life will be like after this.”
This comes after the star revealed he was no longer able to perform after an outbreak of his Crohn's disease caused by eating a piece of undercooked chicken.
Dynamo said problems with his medication caused his life to descend into a “vicious circle” as he felt physically well enough to perform but lost all joy in his work and fell into a deep depression.
The magician said the show is called Dynamo Is Dead as he believes it will be his “last performance” under his stage name as he feels the need to “move on”.
In 1915, the great American escapologist Harry Houdini started the trend when he was buried six feet underground without a coffin
Earlier this week, Dynamo said the loss of his grandmother motivated him to try his “most dangerous” magic trick (pictured together).
In an emotional interview with the Sunday Times earlier this week, he said: “When you take away the magic from a magician, you lose a sense of purpose.”
He revealed that he began self-harming and suffered an identity crisis, telling the newspaper: “Over the last five years, maybe even longer, I have lost the will to live at times.”
“Right now I'm happy to be alive.” However… I'll ultimately be happier when I wake up from this grave. Touch wood.'
When he was a teenager, he was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel disease. When he was a teenager, half of his stomach had to be removed and he suffered excruciating pain for years.
He turned to magic to distract himself from his health problems and became a household name in 2011, gaining fame for his incredible street performances, card tricks and stunts.
But his chronic illness has plagued him all along and flared up in 2017 after he ate a piece of raw chicken at a fast food chain.
He disappeared from the public eye before speaking out about the effects months later, telling fans that he had been hospitalized with a combination of Crohn's disease and food poisoning.
The performer revealed that he was still dealing with the side effects of his steroid medication, including arthritis in his hands, knees, toes, ankles and neck.
Dynamo said that at times it got so bad that he “couldn’t shuffle a deck of cards.”
He vowed he would return to magic, saying he was working with “doctors and physical therapists and doing everything in my power to get to 100 percent.”
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