A SELF-CONFESSED "odd ball" from Dartford has described how it feels to have a sledgehammer smash concrete on your stomach while lying on a bed of nails.
The "petrifying" extreme stunt has landed professional performer Daniella D’Ville a place in the new Guinness World Records book for the most concrete blocks broken on the stomach in a minute, with a record of eight.
But this is only where former Blackfen School for Girls pupil Daniella’s talents begin.
During her four-year career that has seen her travel around the globe, she has learnt how to swallow razor blades, hammer nails into her nose and balance bare foot on the edge of a samurai sword.
The 25-year-old told News Shopper: "Having a 14 lb sledgehammer hurtling towards your ribs is quite petrifying - it is fairly dangerous.
"I have always been an odd ball and I have wanted to be a performer as long as I can simply remember."
Daniella’s career has now taken off, with her having performed shows at venues including Buckingham Palace, Sonisphere Festival and most recently at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in Australia.
But for her mother Ruth Goldsmith, who lives in Bean, watching her daughter put her life on the line is too much.
Daniella, who most enjoys performing the bed of nails stunt, said: "Mum has seen me do contortions but never seen me perform sideshow or on the bed of nails.
"She was not on board at first but now she is my biggest fan.
"I love the reaction from the audience to the bed of nails - you always get an amazing crowd reaction.
"I like the idea of appearing immortal, I watched people perform dangerous sideshow stunts when I was younger and was always amazed at how they would never be harmed."
"I always liked the idea of being immortal and being able to perform this amazing stunt and never get hurt is like that - it is like being a super hero."
Daniella says she is already developing some "bigger stunts" for future shows and is in the process of developing her own hour-long show.
Daniella D’Ville set her Guinness World Record on September 14 last year but had to keep it quiet until this month because she is the first person to set this record and it was only released in the latest edition last week.
Each block that was smashed on her stomach measured 10 x 44 x 21.5 cm and weighed 12 lb.
The Great Gordo Gamsby from Australia hit them with a sledgehammer weighing 14 lb.
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