. >> reporter: at the coney island sideshow, risk of bodily harm is ever-present. rave alens is the sword swallower. >> let's do it. >> reporter: during the course of a typical show day, ray will swallow a sword about 25 times. >> someone who says that i'm risking my health swallowing swords would be absolutely right. interior internal bleeding, a punctured esophagus, perforated something goes awry. adam reelman teaches sideshow acts. >> the single most dangerous sideshow is known as sword swallowing. >> reporter: danger is part of the attraction. they start slow with bent coat hangers. when they master that, they charge on to the heavy artillery. >> oh my god. >> reporter: practice makes perfect. can any amount of practice make these stunts safer? >> that's it, you're good. >> the body will begin to shut down. >> reporter: we caught up with spencer the day after his water torture stunt landed him in the hospital. so walk us through what happened? >> started to get light-headed, getting a headache under water. i remember opening the last lock but then for whatever r