Jayme Deerwester

USA TODAY

Illusionist Criss Angel lost consciousness while performing a stunt at his Mindfreak Live! show in Las Vegas Friday night, his representative confirmed to USA TODAY.

“During Friday evening’s performance, while attempting his famed upside-down straitjacket escape while suspended by his feet, he lost consciousness. He was lowered to the stage and rushed to the hospital where he was evaluated and released early this morning," Kate Turner Whiteley said in a statement on Saturday.

Later, she confirmed that Angel would return to the stage Saturday night after being cleared by doctors. However, it wasn't certain if he would attempt the the upside-down straitjacket stunt.

The incident on Friday left audience members aghast.

The magician was "almost out after spinning for 2 mins and then they let him down," audience member Peter Sehl recounted on Facebook. "He stopped moving, curtain down."

After that, Sehl says, a 15-minute break was called and then the rest of Friday's show was canceled.

Angel's hospitalization also kept him from making an appearance at a Saturday fundraiser for Make-a-Wish of Southern Nevada, the statement noted. Instead he sent a $100,000 donation on behalf of his pediatric cancer nonprofit HELP.