Luna
09-05-2006, 08:20
Illusionist David Blaine has failed in his bid to break the world record for holding his breath under water, while simultaneously escaping heavy chains.
Divers pulled him from his water-filled sphere after he began struggling two minutes short of his nine-minute goal.
Blaine spent seven days under water in New York receiving food and air through tubes. Crowds of spectators and millions of TV viewers saw him rescued.
Appearing shaken and weak, he thanked his supporters and left for hospital.
"This was a very difficult week but you all made it fly by with your strong spirit, your energy, thank you so much everybody," Blaine told a cheering crowd in Lincoln Square.
Although he failed to break the record, if the aim was to create a spectacle and generate publicity, then the stunt has to some extent been a success, the BBC's Jeremy Cooke says.
Struggling in tank
Blaine managed to hold his breath underwater for seven minutes
The current world record for holding breath under water stands at eight minutes and 58 seconds.
Blaine spent seven minutes and eight seconds holding his breath until he was rescued.
He appeared to have freed himself from chains attached to his hands but was struggling to free his feet when the divers entered the tank and pulled him out.
The illusionist received medical treatment over the weekend after Blaine's spokesman, Pat Smith, said his peeling skin and overall condition was worrying doctors.
"They're worried about loss of dexterity," Mr Smith said. "There is considerable concern about both his hands and his muscle tone."
In order to receive medical attention, Blaine stuck his hand out of a hole at the top of a tank, allowing doctors to remove specially created gloves, apply lotion and put on new gloves.
Murat Gunel, Blaine's doctor, had advised against performing the escape.
Brain injury
Blaine's peeling skin and overall condition were worrying doctors
The 33-year-old US showman shed 50lbs (23kg) in body weight to improve the efficiency with which his body uses oxygen, prior to embarking on the stunt.
Prolonged submersion in water poses a number of hazards, including nerve damage, blackouts, sleep deprivation and skin problems.
Blaine had said his skin is causing him pain "like constant pins and needles" after five days in the acrylic sphere.
A lack of adequate oxygen, especially after seven days underwater, also carries a risk of irreversible brain injury, according to medical experts.
Blaine's previous stunts include spending 61 hours inside a block of ice and fasting for 44 days in a perspex box over London's River Thames.
Divers pulled him from his water-filled sphere after he began struggling two minutes short of his nine-minute goal.
Blaine spent seven days under water in New York receiving food and air through tubes. Crowds of spectators and millions of TV viewers saw him rescued.
Appearing shaken and weak, he thanked his supporters and left for hospital.
"This was a very difficult week but you all made it fly by with your strong spirit, your energy, thank you so much everybody," Blaine told a cheering crowd in Lincoln Square.
Although he failed to break the record, if the aim was to create a spectacle and generate publicity, then the stunt has to some extent been a success, the BBC's Jeremy Cooke says.
Struggling in tank
Blaine managed to hold his breath underwater for seven minutes
The current world record for holding breath under water stands at eight minutes and 58 seconds.
Blaine spent seven minutes and eight seconds holding his breath until he was rescued.
He appeared to have freed himself from chains attached to his hands but was struggling to free his feet when the divers entered the tank and pulled him out.
The illusionist received medical treatment over the weekend after Blaine's spokesman, Pat Smith, said his peeling skin and overall condition was worrying doctors.
"They're worried about loss of dexterity," Mr Smith said. "There is considerable concern about both his hands and his muscle tone."
In order to receive medical attention, Blaine stuck his hand out of a hole at the top of a tank, allowing doctors to remove specially created gloves, apply lotion and put on new gloves.
Murat Gunel, Blaine's doctor, had advised against performing the escape.
Brain injury
Blaine's peeling skin and overall condition were worrying doctors
The 33-year-old US showman shed 50lbs (23kg) in body weight to improve the efficiency with which his body uses oxygen, prior to embarking on the stunt.
Prolonged submersion in water poses a number of hazards, including nerve damage, blackouts, sleep deprivation and skin problems.
Blaine had said his skin is causing him pain "like constant pins and needles" after five days in the acrylic sphere.
A lack of adequate oxygen, especially after seven days underwater, also carries a risk of irreversible brain injury, according to medical experts.
Blaine's previous stunts include spending 61 hours inside a block of ice and fasting for 44 days in a perspex box over London's River Thames.