US hypnotist Scott Lewis dies in Australia balcony plunge

[BalanceOfPower]

US hypnotist Scott Lewis dies in Australia balcony plunge

AFP
January 12, 2014, 1:27 pm

Sydney (AFP) - An American stage hypnotist in Sydney as part of a touring magic troupe died after plunging several storeys from an apartment balcony, reports said Sunday.

Scott Lewis, a hypnotist-entertainer with a long-running Las Vegas show, fell to his death from a balcony in Sydney's Goldsbrough Mort apartment block on Friday night, according to widespread local media reports.

Lewis was visiting Australia as part of the Illusionists 2.0 magic troupe, performing at the Sydney Opera House. The venue confirmed his death in a joint statement with the production company.

"The company is deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Dr Lewis," said producer Tim Lawson.

"The entire company has decided to continue the show in his honour, and send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends."

Added the Opera House: "We wish to express our deepest sympathies to Dr Lewis' family and friends, as well as to the cast and crew of The Illusionists 2.0."

"Dr Lewis was a wonderful performer and he will be greatly missed."

According to the Daily Telegraph newspaper, Lewis's body was found on a fourth-floor balcony, seven floors below his apartment, on Saturday morning after he failed to join the company bus for an 11:00 am matinee performance at the Opera House.

Lewis was dead when police and ambulance crews arrived.

His death is not being treated as suspicious, but police are investigating whether he fell while trying to climb to another balcony.

Saturday's matinee was cancelled due to "unforeseen circumstances", but a later show went on as scheduled at 7:00 pm.

At the conclusion of the Saturday evening performance, the remaining six Illusionists cast members informed the audience that Lewis had died and shared a tearful tribute to his life.

"Today is a very sad day for us. We lost a performer," they said.

Lewis performed in Las Vegas for nine years and was, according to his website, a licensed chiropractor and clinical hypnotherapist.

He wrote two books and was a motivational speaker and consultant as well as entertainer.

 

[BalanceOfPower]

Hypnotist dies in Sydney balcony fall

AAP
January 11, 2014, 11:58 pm

The body of a well known touring hypnotist has been found outside a central Sydney unit block.

It's believed Las Vegas showman Dr Scott Lewis fell from an eleventh-floor balcony to the fourth floor of the Pyrmont complex where he was staying with other performers.

His body was found by police on Saturday morning.

Dr Lewis was discovered missing when he failed to meet a bus which was to take him and six other members of the Illusionists 2.0 show to the Sydney Opera House where they were to perform.

"I came out of my room, I could hear someone screaming for help," witness John Breen told the Nine Network.

A crime scene has been established, which has been examined by forensic specialists.

Police aren't treating the death as suspicious.

Dr Scott Lewis fell from the 11th storey of a Sydney apartment block. Photo: Supplied

However, a report is being prepared for the coroner.

Meanwhile, the Sydney Opera House released a statement on Saturday evening, saying it had been informed of Dr Lewis' death.

"We wish to express our deepest sympathies to Dr Lewis' family and friends, as well as to the cast and crew of The Illusionists 2.0," it read.

"Dr Lewis was a wonderful performer and he will be greatly missed.

The show's co-producer Tim Lawson said his colleagues were deeply saddened by the sudden loss.

"The entire company has decided to continue the show in his honour, and send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends," he said.