Brad Byers (born October 8, 1959) is an American entertainer known for his extreme performances, including

sword swallowing Sword swallowing is a skill in which the performer passes a sword through the mouth and down the esophagus to the stomach. This feat is not swallowing in the traditional sense. The natural processes that constitute swallowing do not take place, bu ...

, lying on beds of nails and inserting various

tool A tool is an object that can extend an individual's ability to modify features of the surrounding environment or help them accomplish a particular task. Although many animals use simple tools, only human beings, whose use of stone tools dates ba ...

s into his

nasal cavity The nasal cavity is a large, air-filled space above and behind the nose in the middle of the face. The nasal septum divides the cavity into two cavities, also known as fossae. Each cavity is the continuation of one of the two nostrils. The nasal c ...

. For the latter he is also referred to as a "Human

toolbox A toolbox (also called toolkit, tool chest or workbox) is a box to organize, carry, and protect the owner's tools. They could be used for trade, a hobby or DIY, and their contents vary with the craft. Types A toolbox could refer to several typ ...

". He holds several World Records. His brother Rod assists him in some performances.

Biography

Brad Byers was born and raised in

Moscow, Idaho Moscow ( ) is a city in North Central Idaho, United States. Located along the state border with Washington, it had a population of 25,435 at the 2020 census. The county seat and largest city of Latah County, Moscow is the home of the Universit ...

. According to the biography given on his official site, he joined a traveling circus to become a juggler shortly after graduating from high school. Two years later he left the circus to focus on TV performances. He began swallowing swords at the age of 21. Throughout his career he performed in more than 20 countries. He is listed in the 1999, 2000 and 2003 editions of the ''

Guinness Book of Records ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...

''. He also took part in fourth and eighth seasons of

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...

's ''

America's Got Talent ''America's Got Talent'' (often abbreviated as ''AGT'') is a televised American talent show competition, and is part of the global ''Got Talent'' franchise created by Simon Cowell. The program is produced by Fremantle (as well as distribut ...

'' TV show (2009, 2013).

Performances

Sword swallowing

He earned a Guinness World Record for "The Most Swords Swallowed and Twisted at One Time" by swallowing twelve 27-inch swords one at a time until all 12 were in his esophagus and then twisting all 12 swords 180 degrees in his throat before withdrawing them and taking a bow. He is also among the few people in the world able to swallow a curved sword.

"Human toolbox"

"Human toolbox" is a moniker given to him by the ''

Guinness World Records ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...

'' for his activities involving inserting various

s in his

. He hammers in a nail or an awl and hangs a weight on it. Seen through the X-ray, the nail stops in several millimeters from his brain. He puts in a fishing hook into his nasal cavity so that it shows up out of his mouth. He also puts in a

drill A drill is a tool used for making round holes or driving fasteners. It is fitted with a bit, either a drill or driverchuck. Hand-operated types are dramatically decreasing in popularity and cordless battery-powered ones proliferating due to ...

when it is being turned on. As it reaches maximum safe depth, he turns the drill off and on again when getting it out.

Other

He has also laid on a bed of nails while his brother ran over him driving a

quad bike An all-terrain vehicle (ATV), also known as a light utility vehicle (LUV), a quad bike, or simply a quad, as defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI); is a vehicle that travels on low-pressure tires, with a seat that is strad ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Byers, Brad 1959 births Living people People from Moscow, Idaho Sideshow performers American stunt performers America's Got Talent contestants Sword swallowers