Magician Louis Yan sets himself free with first Guinness record of 2013

While some of us toasted the New Year with a glass of champagne, local magician Louis Yan Chak-kuen celebrated by claiming a Guinness World Record.

Yan became the fastest person to escape from a straitjacket and chains under water at the Olympian City shopping mall's New Year countdown celebration.

The magician, nicknamed Hong Kong's David Copperfield, freed himself in less than 26 seconds, earning the first Guinness record of the year.

Yan was joined by singers Chet Lam Yat-fung, Eman Lam Yee-man and Ellen Loo Hoi-tung at the New Year party. To warm up, he showed the stars a few of his magic tricks before gearing up for the real deal.

After the feat, Yan, who was champion of the 73rd US Abbott Magic Stage Competition in 2010, said the stunt had been more challenging than any other illusion he had pulled off.

"This is the first time I challenged myself with an underwater stunt," he said.