A British strongman has achieved a world first by 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 approximately 40 metres in Halifax, UK, during a challenge that 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 penis to complete the feat, describing the stunt as 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,” Stephenson said. “I’ve got a few marks, but everything is still intact so hopefully no harm done.”
Inspiration Behind the Stunt
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.
Serious Purpose
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.
