A Britain's Got Talent act terrified the audience and judges with a close call during a death defying act - but later claimed it made him 'feel alive'
Italian escapologist Andrew Basso appeared on the ITV talent show to show judges Simon Cowell, David Walliams, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon what he was capable of. The 36-year-old had Amanda handcuff him and lock him into the lid of the tank.
He was then positioned upside down under water in a death defying stunt. He had to escape from the locks and exit the tank or face drowning in front of a live audience. A warning popped up on screen reminding viewers not to try it at home.
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The act started off well as Andrew managed to undo the handcuffs after only one minute. The crowd cheered, but the act wasn't over yet as he still had to free his feet and turn his body the correct way up to exit the water.
The crowd fell silent as the music went off once the act hit the two minute 30 second mark, which Ant and Dec called 'The Danger Zone.' Someone in the audience said they couldn't watch as they covered their eyes.
Alesha asked: "Is this part of the act?" as Andrew appeared to struggle. A member of the audience pointed out that he was panicking. It was a tense moment as the silence was deafening.
Andrew finally made it out unscathed at three minutes and three seconds as he gasped for air. Simon asked: "Why would you want to do that?" Andrew answered: "I feel more alive right now."
The judges praised him and said he was a "great showman", while Alesha added that it was: "So hard to watch."
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