- Title: USA: Magician David Blaine hangs in Central Park
- Date: 24th September 2008
- Summary: DAVID BLAINE HANGING FROM HARNESS
- Embargoed: 9th October 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVAB09X7VOTZMEPPTIIX39K2G1HH
- Story Text: Magician David Blaine kicks off his latest challenge in Central Park. He will hang upside-down for 60 hours without food or sleep.
Magician David Blaine unveiled his latest stunt at Wollman's Rink in Central Park on Monday (September 22). This time, the daredevil, will hang upside-down at a height of 44 feet for 60 hours. The challenge will end with a terrifying plunge.
Blaine, who has made a name for himself by pushing the limits of what humans can endure, will abstain from eating and sleeping for the duration of the challenge but will drink fluids. He will also be able to zip around freely while upside-down to talk to those who want to visit him.
Two hours after being hoisted upside-down, Blaine looked uncomfortable.
He could be seen stretching his legs and pulling himself up to a horizontal position about every five minutes.
"I thought it was going to be pretty bad but it's probably worse than I anticipated," said Blaine.
Blaine's past challenges include holding his breath under water for more than 17 minutes, fasting for 44-days while suspended in a glass box over the Thames in London and surviving in a block of ice for more than 60 hours.
With each challenge, he takes things minute by minute, he said, not contemplating the remaining time he must spend in discomfort.
This challenge where the blood rushes to his head for a prolonged period has been particularly difficult, he said.
"I think the hardest part of this is going to be sleep-deprivation plus keeping blood flow and I guess the good news is...I guess the other factor that we didn't consider is heat from the sun. That'll need to be considered," said Blaine, who grunted from the pain.
Joining him above ground was tv host Kelly Ripa who interviewed him upside-down for a segment on "Live with Regis and Kelly".
Blaine's doctor, Ronald Ruden, who has advised him on all of his challenges said he was particularly concerned about blood clots and blindness.
""We get into real trouble because if he throws a clot or he breaks a blood vessel in his brain, there is nothing stopping it. So we just have to hope it doesn't happen because if it happens it will literally be a tragedy for David," he said.
A crowd of fans on onlookers had gathered at the rink, many incredulous that he was undertaking his latest stunt.
"I don't know how he does it. He must have the biggest headache, I would think but it's pretty amazing. He's an amazing person," said Cameron Scansaroli, who lives nearby.
The challengeon Wednesday night with a two-hour special airing on ABC called "David Blaine: Dive of Death". - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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