Thursday 4th May 2006
DAVID BLAINE CHALLENGES DEATH AGAIN: LIVING UNDERWATER SEVEN DAYS AT LINCOLN CENTER AND TRYING TO HOLD HIS BREATH LONGER THAN ANY HUMAN
David Blaine, internationally renowned performance artist and magician, today announced his latest death-defying demonstration. He will spend seven days and nights underwater, living in an eight-foot acrylic sphere with a life support system. He will be submerged in this specially built human aquarium, in full public view on the Josie Robertson Plaza at New York City’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
For his grand finale, David will put himself at the ultimate risk when he attempts to hold his breath under water longer than any human ever has on a live national TV broadcast.
Blaine encourages the public to sustain him throughout the seven-day challenge by touching the sphere and bringing messages of encouragement and taking photographs. His diving helmet will have two-way communication, enabling him to do interviews. There also will be entertainment on the Robertson Plaza throughout the seven days.
“Once again, I would like to test the limits of endurance and demonstrate what humans are capable of achieving,” said Blaine. “For a few days at least, people from all over the world can share in an experience, either in person or through the media, in this beautiful setting at Lincoln Center. This will be an exciting seven-day experience, the kind of event you can do only in New York City.”
Artists are welcome to paint or sketch the scene, Blaine said.
“The health risks of this perilous undertaking are not limited to the obvious threat of brain damage during the breath hold portion,” said Dr. Murat Gunel, Chief of Neurosurgery at Yale University, who specializes in surgical treatment of stroke, most commonly due to lack of blood flow or oxygen to the brain.
“Lack of adequate oxygen in David’s brain during breath holding, especially after prolonged period of seven days of submersion, carries risk of irreversible brain injury. Areas in the brain that are especially vulnerable are those responsible for memory, coordination and higher cognitive functions such as thinking, decision-making and personality. David might never be the same again. 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.”
David’s prolonged period of submersion also poses a number of life-threatening hazards such as nerve damage, black outs, skin problems and hypothermia. For this reason, it is vital that David fully acclimate himself in the sphere and maintain a strict regiment of sleep and hydration. If he is unable to keep his body temperature at a stable 98.6 degrees, David will be forced to use valuable oxygen to maintain his core temperature, making the breath hold challenge nearly unattainable.
Blaine has been training for the breath hold segment in the Cayman Islands with Kirk Krack, a professional freediving coach and trainer.
“In training David to hold his breath under water longer than anyone ever has, it quickly became apparent that he has special physiological abilities,” said Krack, President, Coach/Trainer Performance Freediving International Inc. “In addition, his mental power and focus are like nothing I’ve ever encountered.”
The current under water breath hold record is 8 minutes and 58 seconds set by German-born Tom Siestas on December 12th, 2004.
David also has trained with the U.S. Navy Seals and members of his personal team of experts and specialists, who put him through an excruciating physical and mental preparation including a strictly regimented diet.
Blaine’s awe-inspiring magic was brought into the mainstream in 1997 with his first nationally syndicated television special, 'David Blaine: Street Magic'. Since then, Blaine has buried himself alive for seven days; frozen himself in a block of ice for over 61 hours, and balanced atop a 90-foot pillar for 35 hours. Most recently, Blaine successfully completed a 44-day water-only fast while suspended in an acrylic box over the Thames River.
'Drowned Alive' is yet another mesmerizing chapter in David Blaine’s elaborate legacy of death-defying stunts and demonstrations.
This final demonstration will be aired live as part of a two-hour ABC prime time special, 'David Blaine: Drowned Alive', which will air on Monday, May 8th (8:00 pm through 10:00 pm, ET).
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David Jensen Photography:
https://www.davidjensen.co.uk/
