Indian Magician Drowns While Attempting Famous Houdini Trick

Sometimes magic tricks can go terribly wrong.

Indian magician Chanchal Lahiri, in a bid to recreate Harry Houdini's world-famous trick , was lowered into a river while being chained but unexpectedly drowned while performing the stunt.

The 40-year-old, who was also known as "Jadugar Mandrake" (Wizard Mandrake), reportedly failed to emerge from the river, shocking onlookers and his family who were present.

According to a report by the Agence France Presse (AFP), Indian police recovered the body of the magician on Monday (17 June).

Lahiri reportedly told the news agency before attempting the act that this is not the first time he has done it.

He reportedly said that he pulled the same stunt almost 21 years ago.

Chanchal before being lowered into the river.

"I was inside a bulletproof glass box tied with chain and locks and dropped down from Howrah bridge. Then I came out within 29 seconds," he was quoted as saying, adding that it would be tough to free himself this time.

"If I can open it up then it will be magic, but if I can't it will be tragic," he famously said.

Harry Houdini, an American stuntman, was popular in the early 20th century, especially for his feat of escaping from a crate lowered into the East River in New York in 1912.