SAPS Calls on a Magician for help

SAPS ran into difficulty recently when attempting to debunk footage from New Bedford Armory which shows a man getting hit in the face by an equipment bag, apparently by an unseen force. When SAPS does not have an answer, we do not make one up. We seek out the answer. Because of this, we contacted Ian, a magician friend of ours in the UK.

Here is the piece of footage he helped us to explain:

New Bedford Armory Paranormal Footage

And here is what our magician friend said about the footage:

...just watched footage and there are a few ways to do that, but the way I'd do it is the most surefire, and mundane...

Someone hidden behind me holding a wire which goes over my right shoulder, down and thru the equipment bag, then up and back over my left shoulder, back to the accomplice, forming one big loop. One pull and I'm hit squarely in the face. The contents of the bag would be light and soft, a heat pack or even a hot towel put to my face later on for the shot of the thermal 'bruising'.

I love the way the guy in front just happens to have both arms up feeling for cold spots. Just a convincer to condition the audience there couldn't have been any 'funny stuff' going on.

And total bunkum :)

What makes me smile is that shows like these (we have Most Haunted in UK) by their very nature are filmed in the dark, allowing allsorts of shenanigans!

But, like the quote says:

"For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, none will suffice."

Thanks for the explanation!

Another entirely possible way to fake footage, no ghosts involved.

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