A 50-year-old kickboxer has made history as the first person in the UK to tow a two-tonne Seat Leon over 50 meters using solely his testicles.
The Daring Feat
John Stephenson completed the challenge on February 27 at West Bank in Halifax, a location known for filming scenes from the ITV drama Ackley Bridge. He attached a tow-rope to a silk scarf tied around his testicles and pulled the vehicle while munching on a bag of nuts. Spectators, including family and local residents, cheered him on despite a tense moment when a slipknot in the rope came loose early.
Afterward, Stephenson quipped, “When I’d finished my plums were bright purple but I’m still firing on all cylinders.” He noted initial doubts but pushed through, stating, “I did 50m but I think I could have done further. I just ran out of road. I’m the first and only man in the UK to ever achieve it. But if you never try things, how do you ever know if you can do it or not.”
Mental Health Awareness
Beyond the spectacle, the stunt carried a serious purpose: raising awareness for men’s mental health. Stephenson, a world record holder who has previously towed vehicles like The A-Team van and a police car from The Bill using his arms, emphasized the need for open conversations.
“I want to use this to encourage people to look after themselves,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and ask for help if you think you need it. A lot of men don’t, and they feel like they’ve got an ego to maintain. They don’t talk and let their problems get the better of them. I always say that men who talk can heal.”
Personal Background
Originally from Peterlee, Stephenson splits his time between family in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Recently, he discovered seven siblings through an estranged father after a surprise Facebook message from sister Colleen. To fund travel to meet them, he won a bare-knuckle fight and used the prize money for train fare.
Sister Sherrie attended the event and remarked, “It was amazing. It was very bizarre to watch but we’re all really proud of him.”
Global Context
While using genitals to pull vehicles is not unprecedented internationally—such as Chinese Qigong master Tu Jin-Sheng, known as “Iron Crotch,” or Kung Fu master Ye Hongwei towing a five-tonne helicopter—no prior records exist of this feat in the UK.
