PREVIEW

WORDS BYLINE: Duncan Browne
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A champion fighter who became the first person in the world to drag a car with his penis after being set on fire has pulled off another dramatic stunt.
John Stephenson is a bare knuckle boxer who has become known for his impressive feats of strength that often involve pulling heavy vehicles using unlikely body parts.
He previously became the first man in the UK to pull a two-tonne vehicle using his testicles, and the first in the world to drag a car with his penis while doused in flames.
For his latest challenge he decided to use his gnashers to pull a patrol car, once used on hit TV show The Bill, for fifty metres in a bid to raise awareness for homelessness. If that wasn’t enough, 50-year-old John set his shirt alight in the process.
“I just try anything. I just like to think of things people haven’t done,” said John. “It’s not every day you see someone on fire pulling a car with their teeth. I feel I’m tapping into a niche thing. I know it’s crazy but for me it’s the challenge that excites me. Because I don’t fight anymore, I still want that adrenaline rush. So there’s nothing better than setting myself a light and pulling a car.”
As a warm-up, John pulled the car with his teeth while dressed in full police uniform, before setting himself on fire.
“I felt it, it was starting to seep through my clothing,” he added. “It kind of burnt through but we got the job done. I’ve spent years training for these things, so it’s not something anyone should try at home.”
John has been carrying out his stunts in Halifax’s West Bank as he has been spending time with his long-lost sisters, with whom he recently became acquainted.
In doing so he has built up quite a fanbase with locals, but he’s now looking to move back to South Holland and put on a show for locals.
“I want to do something in Lincolnshire,” he explained. “I’m coming back to home waters. I might do something down there.”
He is currently planning his next stunt, but admits he wants to try to lift a car.
John, who has gypsy heritage on his father's side, also holds a number of world records, including the machine gun punch for delivering 300 punches in 30 seconds with 1kg dumbbells in each hand.
He is also a published author of a number of martial arts books, has starred in British movie The Guardian and has also used his arms to pull a number of high-profile vehicles such as the A-Team van, General Lee from the Dukes of Hazzard and a patrol car and ambulance used in TV shows The Bill and Casualty.