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02
May 2006
David
Blaine Underwater Stunt
Begins
Illusionist
David
Blaine
has begun his latest
stunt - spending seven
days underwater in his
"human aquarium"
challenge in New
York.
The
33-year-old lowered
himself into a 2.5m
(8ft) acrylic sphere
filled with water at the
Lincoln Center for the
Performing
Arts.
A
mask and air line will
keep Blaine alive, while
food will be provided
through a
tube.
"My
only fear is the
unknown," Blaine said
before descending into
the sphere.
Hundreds
of people turned out on
Monday to see Blaine -
who spent 44 days in a
suspended acrylic box
over the River Thames in
2003 - begin his latest
stunt.
After
seven days he will
attempt to break the
world record for holding
breath under water,
which currently stands
at eight minutes, 58
seconds.
He
revealed an unexpected
twist to the challenge,
telling reporters he
would be handcuffed into
150lb (68kg) of metal
chains for the dramatic
finale.
"So
basically besides
holding my breath for
about nine minutes
hopefully I will have to
escape from all these
chains, and if not I
will drown and the world
will see something
pretty insane," he
said.
Dr
Murat Gunel, who
specialises in surgical
treatment of strokes,
said a lack of adequate
oxygen in Blaine's brain
during the
breath-holding
challenge, especially
after seven days under
water, carried a risk of
irreversible brain
injury.
"David
might never be the same
again," he said. "Even
if he is fine
immediately after, there
is a risk for developing
seizures in the long
run. We all advised him
against this
stunt."
Blaine
entered the "bubble"
wearing trousers, rubber
shoes and a special
diving mask.
During
the seven-day challenge
the water temperature
will be maintained at
around 36C and he will
be able to control his
own core body
temperature by wearing
specially designed
wetsuits.
He
has also undergone
intensive training for
the challenge, shedding
50lbs (23kg) in body
weight since January to
improve the efficiency
with which his body uses
oxygen.
"I
feel pretty good. Though
I've been sleeping very
little and
breath-holding
non-stop," Blaine
said.
"My
system is completely
empty and I did that so
there's no waste. That
way in the sphere I
don't have to use the
bathroom."
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