MAGICIAN'S HEAD SET ON FIRE IN TV PRANK

A US magician has been seriously injured after a TV host set his head
on fire live on television.


Wayne Houchin was appearing on a show in the Dominican Republic when,
in an apparently unscripted prank, its host dropped flammable liquid
on his head, setting him alight.


Houchin's own crew, who were at the show, rushed to save him and put
out the flames - but not before he had suffered burns to his head,
face, neck and right hand. Houchin tried to extinguish flames after
his head is set alight
The illusionist, who hosts Breaking Magic on the Discovery Channel,
was rushed to hospital where he says he is "in pain" but recovering.


Houchin, who was in the country promoting his Curiosidades show, wrote
on Facebook after the incident: "I was not aware he was going to do
this. This was not a stunt or part of an act - this was a criminal
attack.


"The fast actions of the rest of our Curiosidades team saved my life.
The fire was put out and I was rushed to the emergency room.
"I have bad burns on my head, face, neck andright hand. I am in pain,
but am recovering. I will update you on the situation when I can." He
drops to the floor as his crews put out the flames.


He has continued to report on his progress on Twitter and in one of
his more recent posts wrote: "The doctors are cautiously optimistic
that I will fully recover with no scars."


He has extended his stay in the Dominican Republic following the
incident on Monday sohe can remain in hospital to receive treatment
for his injuries.


The host used a liquid called Aqua De Florida to set Houchin alight.
It is a flammable cologne popular in Latin countries, which is also
used as a sacred cleaning spray by shamans and witch doctors in the
Caribbean.


Houchin has received hundreds of comments from well-wishers, including
from fellow magician David Copperfield who wrote on Twitter: "My
thoughts are with you and your family. Best wishes on a swift and
complete recovery."


Once described as "a cross between a con man and a street magician",
Houchin first came to prominence in 1999 at the age of 16when he
escaped from a straitjacket hanging 50ft above a busy road.


In 2010 he "stopped time" for the Dominican Republic in a live
televised illusion.