WATCH: Escape Artist Nearly Drowns In Death-Defying Stunt In N.J.

An escape artist who participated in a “death-defying” stunt in front of an audience in New Brunswick on Tuesday was hospitalized after he apparently almost drowned.

Spencer Horsman was performing a stunt titled “The Water Torture Cell” as part of the Criss Angel show around noon when he was submerged in a box of water while hanging above a New Brunswick street near the State Theater, according to the Breaking News Network.

Horsman was unable to escape the box and nearly drowned, nj.com reported. EMS treated him and was brought to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where his condition was unknown Tuesday afternoon.

Officials could not immediately confirm if the incident, which occurred just before 12 p.m., was a hoax or an accident.

As part of the stunt, Horsman was placed inside a 30-inch Plexiglas tank filled with 100 gallons of water that was blocked with locked bars across the tank.

He was in the water tank for about 2.5 minutes, according to witnesses, but he couldn’t get the last latch of the tank open. A crane suspending the tank lowered the device and EMTs dragged Horsman out, nj.com said.

This is not the first close call for Horsman.

In July, he was performing a similar trick during a rehearsal for Criss Angel’s new magic show when he became trapped, according to ABC News.

Here’s the stunt:

Here is the promotional video for the tour: