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Harry Houdini escapes underwater coffin after 91 minutes
Seeking to outdo a rival magician, Harry Houdini pushed the limits of endurance with one of the most dangerous—and memorable—stunts of his career.
On August 5, 1926, master illusionist Harry Houdini shocks reporters at the Shelton Hotel in New York City, when he climbs into an airtight metal casket and is lowered into a swimming pool. With only a limited supply of oxygen, the escape artist remains submerged for a record-breaking 91 minutes.
Houdini, born in Hungary as Erik Weisz, took on the challenge after rival magician Rahman Bey had spent nearly an hour locked in a partially submerged coffin on July 2. Houdini was determined to beat him. He ran two trial runs, which lasted about 70 and 73 minutes, to practice shallow breathing for oxygen preservation.
He drew a crowd for the big stunt at the hotel. Houdini stripped down to a pair of shorts to show his audience he wasn’t wearing a secret breathing tube. Then he lowered himself into an airtight iron coffin. His assistants kept the coffin submerged and only communicated with him through a telephone line. The coffin was wired with a buzzer in case Houdini was in distress.
Sealed casket containing Houdini placed in pool at Shelton Hotel.
Sealed casket containing Houdini placed in pool at Shelton Hotel.
“After one hours and twenty-eight minutes, I commenced to see yellow lights and carefully watched myself not to go to sleep,” Houdini wrote in a letter to a doctor. “There is no doubt in my mind that had this test been where fresh air could have gotten into the galvanized iron coffin as I was put in same, I could have readily stayed fifteen or thirty minutes longer.”
Houdini’s underwater coffin stunt capped a career filled with jaw-dropping illusions and daring escapes from handcuffs, straitjackets, a milk can and a Chinese water torture cell. Just three months later, on October 31, 1926, Houdini died at age 52, from complications of a ruptured appendix. He was buried at Machpelah Cemetery in Queens, New York.
5 of Houdini’s Greatest Stunts
Here's why the world's most famous escape artist became a global sensation.
Here's why the world's most famous escape artist became a global sensation.
The Secret Life of Houdini
Show: History's Greatest Mysteries with Laurence FishburneThe secrets of Houdini—born Erik Weisz—are uncovered, along with insights into his early childhood.
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Citation Information
- Article Title
- Harry Houdini escapes underwater coffin after 91 minutes
- Authors
- Website Name
- History
- Date Accessed
- October 21, 2026
- Publisher
- A&E Television Networks
- Last Updated
- August 05, 2026
- Original Published Date
- August 04, 2026
