OGDEN -- With 10 seconds to go, Bruce Bunnell was still struggling with a lock that had his neck clamped in prime position for decapitation.
With five seconds to go, a worried child asked her mom if he would get out. The clock hands hesitated.
Three seconds later, Bunnell pulled himself free and took a bow while the blade of a guillotine thudded down behind him.
It was a successful escape and a relief to Bunnell -- rehearsal had not gone well.
Bunnell was one of the participants in the third annual Worldwide Escape Artist Relay, an activity that coordinates escape artists from around the world to perform on the same day.
Brandon Chapman, 13, of Ogden, also performed his first public escape by getting out of thumb cuffs and a rope tied around his wrists within eight seconds.
"I was nervous about the crowd, because I've never headlined," Brandon said.
But he performed perfectly, so he was excited by the success.
About 50 people turned out on the cloudy Saturday to watch the two perform at the Ogden Amphitheater.
James Dayley, a magician and owner of Two-Bit Street Cafe, was there to document the performances.
He said the number of magicians in the Ogden area has been increasing since the founding of the Northern Utah Magic Association, which allows members to socialize, practice performances and swap tips. Dayley, Bunnell and Chapman are all members.
Brandon's father, Chris Chapman, said his son got into magic when they went to Las Vegas for a motorcycle convention and attended a David Copperfield show.
Brandon said he'd been playing around with magic since he was 7, but knew he wanted to make a career out of it when he got to be an onstage assistant for Copperfield.
Chris Chapman said he realized how good Brandon was when his son was approached by the producer of the TV show "Criss Angel Mindfreak" and appeared on the show with Angel.
He said he had no problem when he found out what Brandon wanted to do.
"I said, 'Well, whatever. Have fun. Don't do drugs. Don't drink alcohol.' "
Bunnell said he has been performing since first grade and has loved escape tricks since he began learning about Harry Houdini.
The trick he performed Saturday was one he designed himself. Bunnell had two minutes to free himself from a straitjacket, chains strapping him to the guillotine and a locked restraint keeping his neck in the path of the blade.
Although magic is a side job -- Bunnell works at Ogden Regional Respiratory Center -- he works hard at keeping up his skills.
"I love the lights. I love being on stage. I love performing. I love the people."
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