Jasen Getready News Today

>> jason had this grand idea. he really wanted to break through the local market into a national spotlight. >> jason is performing an extraordinary feat, one that has taken four months to prepare. its a well-known escape act created by harry houdini in the 20s. it entails hanging upside down, escaping from a straightjacket. only jason plans on taking it up a notch. >> the twist on it was that he was going to perform this stunt with the rope that was holding him upside down on fire. >> jasens bes...

>> shes not nervous at all. >> how do you feel about your brother performing? >> very, very calm. >> they filmed the events of the day from a distance. the local news is there to cover jase as jasen getready to take the stage, the weather begins to turn. >> you maybe cant see, but theres a huge storm blowing in here. the wind is majoy picking up. and its raining. nig falls and the crowd is filled with anticipation. >> we were so concerned with putting on an entertaining show -- im telling you, i...

>> the crane lifts jasen up above the crowd 50 feet above the river. >> so jasens job was to get out of the straight jacket, detach himself from the harness. hed be free and clear from the rope. and with any luck as hes being brought down the rope burns through showing a dramatic finish to a successful stunt. >> but things dont go as planned. immediately joe sees jasen struggling with the straight jacket. >> the canvas that these straight jackets are made from will shrink and tighten in the rain...

The platform and on the rope. i knew the fire would burn through the rain as long as we had more fuel than we had rain. >> minutes away from the performance, jasen appears relaxed, even jovial. >> and they set the magician on fire too. >> just after 9:00 p.m., joe makes the announcement. its show time. >> ladies and gentlemen, the man of the hour! lets hear it. make some noise! >> a professional camera crew records the action as jasen gets strapped into the harness and joe lights the rope on fir...

We needed to get hown and close to us. >> jasens sister yells in desperation. >> i remember people yelling go faster, bring him down. but he couldnt. he was literally going as fast as he could. >> the crane operator lowers jasen into the river as firefighters battle the flames. >> i saw him lifeless hanging back. i was really, really scared. i didnt know what the situation was at that point. i knew it wasnt good. >> but then slowly joe chasny sees signs of life in his friend. ung urns out t b ly...

Causing only minor burns. >> the only bruise i got was to the ego of a perfectionist who wanted to finish a stunt the way he wrote it on paper. >> ladies and gentlemen, lets give a big round of applause to jasen! >> i was so emotional. >> do you want to say anything to the fans? >> yeah. >> and now ladies and gentlemen, jasen magic. >> i put the microphone on, took a big swallow, thanked everybody for being there. apologized to everybody. >> whatever you do, dont hang upside down with a burning ...