A British strongman has claimed a world first after pulling a car in a highly unusual stunt aimed at raising awareness for health and charity causes.
John Stephenson, 50, dragged a two-tonne car for around 40 metres in Halifax, UK, during the challenge, which also involved him being set on fire under controlled conditions. The martial arts expert and former bare knuckle fighter used a rope attached to his manh00d to complete the feat, saying the stunt was painful but successful.
“I won’t lie, it did hurt quite a bit, but my mind was focused on being on fire, and I just carried on and pulled it,” he said. “I’ve got a few marks, but everything is still intact so hopefully no harm done.”
Stephenson explained that the stunt was inspired by his previous challenges, where he had pulled vehicles using different strength techniques, and wanted to combine them into something more extreme. “I’ve pulled a car before and I’ve done fire stunts, so I thought why not combine both,” he said.
Despite the unusual nature of the challenge, he stressed there was a serious purpose behind it. “There is a serious side to it too. I’m raising awareness of prostate cancer and bullying in schools,” he added.
He is also raising funds for Ruddis Retreat, a charity that provides holidays for families of children with cancer. Stephenson, who is also a painter and decorator from Spalding, has built a reputation for extreme endurance feats, including breaking records for rapid punching and martial arts techniques.
While he admits people sometimes see him as “a bit mad,” he says his challenges are driven by a mix of personal ambition and a desire to support meaningful causes.