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Volunteer Santa Stuck in Midair for 40 Minutes By His Beard — But That’s Not the Best Part of the Story

Nov. 21, 2012 10:30am Liz Klimas

Santa was making his grand entrance at a mall in the U.K. — not by reindeer or through a chimney but by being lowered from the ceiling — when one of his defining characteristics became tangled with the rope, leaving him suspended above the crowds for 40 minutes before he was rescued.

The U.K.’s Metro reported that the incident involved Steve Chessell from 11th Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, who was making his way down from a skylight 50 feet above the stage. Once it became apparent that Santa was stuck at 15 feet above the ground, the Metro reported the announcer saying:

“Oh no he hasn’t got the rope stuck in his beard? Father Christmas are you going to stay up there? That’s the best view of the lights.

“I think Santa wants to stay up there where he can see everybody, who’s been a good boy or a good girl… So Father Christmas won’t be helping us switch on the lights.”

Santa Volunteer Making Grand Entrance at U.K. Mall Gets Suspended 15 Feet Off Ground by Beard

Making the best of the situation, the stuck Santa began waving to the crowd. (Image: YouTube screenshot)

From this angle he looks like an interactive decoration. (Image: YouTube screenshot)

Here a colleague cuts Santa’s beard free. (Image: YouTube screenshot)

Watch this video of the event:

But here’s the best part: The mall’s marketing manager Stephanie Maynard said that Chessell could have taken off the beard and freed himself, but the 32-year-old wasn’t about to ruin Christmas dreams for youngsters who were watching.

Chessell was rescued by his colleague Marc Hilton, who cut through the beard to let Santa loose. Even though his trademark beard was cut close, Chessell helped maintain his character’s image.

(H/T: Gawker)

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Comments (25)

sURFNmADNESS
Posted on November 22, 2012 at 12:13pm
Cheers to Chessell for staying in character.

Thank You from the many parents in the crowd.

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TROONORTH
Posted on November 22, 2012 at 8:43am
Three cheers for the Royal Bloody Engineers!

Merry Christmas to every man-jack of them!

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Servant Of YHVH
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 10:13pm
We don’t do Christmas but this is CUTE!!!

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Dawnsense
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 12:47pm
@VRW Conspirator…that is a wonderful story. There are always gifts under our tree from Santa Claus. I don’t ever want to lose the magic of Christmas that includes Santa Claus. Santa Claus is not a lie. It’s believing in all things good. Besides, what’s wrong with a little magic at Christmas time.

We Believe!!

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jungle J
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 11:35am
AbrahamsSheepdog..your foundation is hate and anger.

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- Jesse_J
  Posted on November 21, 2012 at 12:26pm
  The Dems don’t like Santa because he is competition with their voters. Read fresh political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
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- armyofnibiru
  Posted on November 21, 2012 at 3:04pm
  barakaclause is watching.he’s wants to find out if your a commie or not.if no not even coal for you.
  
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AbrahamsSheepdog
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 11:15am
Santa is the only thing athiest leave alone at Christmas. Why, lies or masks? Dems must love idea, and all the $ it brings.

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JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 11:13am
Poor schlub!!

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ratdude
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 10:50am
My kids still haven’t forgiven me for the lie of Santa. They say they’ll never have their kids believe in Santa.

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- AbrahamsSheepdog
  Posted on November 21, 2012 at 11:00am
  They sound like they have brains. A lie is a lie. Fake cartoon guys don’t fool kids. A lie is a lie. And Im still pissed that we were and are still making a holiday “go burn up credit card day” that’s what is wrong with this country. Keep lying to children. So you can buy china toys. Lies and debt.
  
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- ForMyKidsVA
  Posted on November 21, 2012 at 11:22am
  Your kids need to get over it. If they are still harboring resentment all these years later over Santa not being real, what will they do when they find out their entitlements are about to go bust?
  
  Nothing is wrong with Santa, the Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy. My kids loved them and their only disappointment is that they now know the truth and wish they didn’t. Knowing the truth takes away some of the magic of the holiday.
  
  Report this comment
- VRW Conspirator
  Posted on November 21, 2012 at 11:24am
  My parents never said one day that Santa didn’t exist…I just figured it out about 10-12 or so… You babble about “a lie” and how your kids still harp on it….obviously they are not mature in their thinking nor does it sound they will be….either one of you….
  there is a mystic about Xmas and Santa and Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy that is all part of the JOY of parenting AND being a child…why do you want you children to grow up so fast? why do you want to DESTROY the one thing that children NEED to hold on to as long as possible..even into adulthood…that creative mind, that unquestioning belief, the ability to think outside the box for explanations that the rest of the world decries as unbelievable or magical or impossible.
  
  I still do things today and have for years and still my family, even the adults scratch their heads. I buy gifts that nobody knows about, even my wife, and I sign them Santa Claus. They are never put out until the last minute on Xmas Eve or I toss them into the back of the present pile when I go to my inlaws or my families home. Everyone starts looking around as if to say “who bought these”, “where did these come from” and I hold in the smile as long as possible and simply enjoy the heartwarming feeling of the excitement of my kids and nieces and nephews.
  That is what Xmas SHOULD be about…that feeling..you destroy that with your babble about “it is all a lie”
  
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- jungle J
  Posted on November 21, 2012 at 11:34am
  your kids need help…santa is a great way to help children understand the progressives in society.
  
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- athiest-infedel
  Posted on November 21, 2012 at 11:41am
  Then don’t buy a bunch of crap, no reason to be mad that the majority of americans do. And not all atheists are hatetheists, just some of us….hehehe
  
  Happy turkey day all.
  
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- candymanal
  Posted on November 21, 2012 at 11:45am
  I feel very sorry for your grandkids, RATMAN.
  I can’t think of a worse message to send them, than never to imaginate.
  Imagination is where inventions come from. Although, if you’re just an Obabmabot, you really don’t need anything except health, to make paying in to the government, a priority.
  Lest we all forget, the original Santa Clause. The one who promises us life, everlasting.
  Amen.
  
  Report this comment
- chips1
  Posted on November 21, 2012 at 11:56am
  Santa is real. It’s Obama that is a horrible nightmare.
  
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- drphil69
  Posted on November 21, 2012 at 1:22pm
  Wow, you sure raised some SICK kids, if they actually STILL hold a grudge over Santa Claus?!?
  
  Let me just say that I AM VERY GLAD YOU ARE NOT PART OF MY FAMILY NOR DO I KNOW YOU!!
  
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- AbrahamsSheepdog
  Posted on November 21, 2012 at 2:37pm
  They hate God, love buying china toys, and lying to children. You Can’t Buy Love. Look at society. Lies and debt. Reep what you sow.
  
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- armyofnibiru
  Posted on November 21, 2012 at 3:09pm
  yeah,but at least the kids are told big bird isn’t real as he runs around all year long,pushing kids to tell their parents to vote for oblameo.
  
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qpwillie
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 10:49am
Ho Ho Hoooooooooly dog poo!!!!!!!

Seriously, many kudos Chessell!!

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- Twisted Mind
  Posted on November 21, 2012 at 10:57am
  All I can say is “WHAT A MAN”
  
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AbrahamsSheepdog
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 10:49am
he did that here too! It was really a car jacking/pickpocket for elves. And like our Santa No presents!!! Where’s bidden the whitetooth reindeer, by the way? Elmo in little boys restroom. But they keep that Stupid beard on. Yeah! Christmas 1 more year

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KickinBack
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 10:41am
Must have been those pesky Gremlins…

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sta
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 10:34am
God Bless him.
Thanks Santa!

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