Criss Angel: 3 1/2 minutes to escape death on Clearwater Beach

CLEARWATER -- In less than four minutes, illusionist Criss Angel will remove the stainless-steel, police-issued Smith & Wesson handcuffs, pick locks on two doors, climb three flights of stairs, then grab a ladder hanging from a helicopter that will whisk him 1,000 feet into the air before the building below him implodes.

At least, that's the plan.

If he does Wednesday night's stunt in 3 minutes and 30 seconds or less, he’ll be okay. One second longer and the helicopter won’t get high enough, possibly resulting in the Las Vegas-based escape artist's death, Angel said in a telephone interview this afternoon.

"When 4,400 tons of cement come barreling to Earth, my mission is not to be under that," he told reporters during a conference call. "Because it’s going to come down whether I’m in it or not."

Angel's fans say he can pull off.

And he better. His show, Mindfreak, will be broadcast live for the first time ever Wednesday night on the A&E network. Millions across the world will be watching on TV, and possibly 10,000 could be on Clearwater Beach where the stunt will be performed on the sixth floor of the nine-story Spyglass Resort.

So the pressure is on for this post-modern Harry Houdini, who has walked on water, disappeared in front of a charging, raging Mexican bull, and even set himself on fire. To prepare for the challenge, he has practiced at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport and at the vacant Spyglass itself.

Angel, 40, said the 10 p.m. event will be one of his most dangerous yet.

And live or die, it’s going to be his last.

If he succeeds in this "biggest and baddest" of escapes, he says he’ll take fewer risks and perform more magic instead.

The reason?

He doesn’t want to worry his mother anymore.

-- Mike Donila, Times Staff Writer

[AP Photo, Jim Damaske, Times files]