Man Swallows Rocket-Powered Sword at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Hollywood – And Survives!

08. May, 2010 Comments Off

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – (May 8, 2010) – Today Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Hollywood was the scene of one of the most daring sword swallowing stunts of all time. Scott Nelson, who goes by the name Murrugun the Mystic, survived swallowing a rocket-powered sword.

Murrugun Swallows a Rocket Powered Sword

Shortly after 1 p.m. Pacific Time, Nelson triggered the rocket, which became ablaze with five to eight pounds of pressure and blasted a 26-inch inch sword down his esophagus in just a single second. The blade came within millimeters of hitting the bottom of his stomach.

Broadcast-quality video of Nelson’s death-defying stunt is now available for download below. video can be used for TV newscasts and news websites and has no restrictions.

“This is the most dangerous stunt that I have ever pulled off,” said Nelson. “I’m thrilled to survive it – and become part of Ripley’s Believe it or Not! history.”

Additional background information on this stunt can be found here.

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This is the latest in the display of affection that Ripley’s has for the art of sword swallowing. “Sword swallowers and Ripley’s go way back to the very first Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933,” said Tim O’Brien, VP Communications for Ripley Entertainment Inc. “That was Robert Ripley’s very first public exhibition of the strange and unusual and he realized very quickly that sword swallowers could mesmerize crowds better than most other performances.”

Most recently, as a co-sponsor of World Sword Swallowing Day, 22 daring performers across North America swallowed nearly 138 feet of solid steel at 10 different Believe It or Not! Odditoriums. It was one of the largest simultaneous gatherings of sword swallowers ever.

About Ripley Entertainment

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Hollywood is part of the Ripley Entertainment Inc. family of worldwide attractions, the global leader in location-based entertainment. More than 13 million people visit its 80 attractions in 11 countries each year. In addition to its 31 Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, the Orlando, Florida-based company has publishing, licensing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, that still runs daily in 42 countries. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the third-largest privately held company in Canada.