USA: American endurance artist and illusionist David Blaine concludes what he says is his final stunt after channeling one million volts of electricity through tesla coils for 72 hours

Record ID: 190007

  • Title: USA: American endurance artist and illusionist David Blaine concludes what he says is his final stunt after channeling one million volts of electricity through tesla coils for 72 hours
  • Date: 9th October 2012
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) MARINA BANES, SPECTATOR, SAYING: "To me, mostly, it's a visual thing combined with the music. It's pretty amazing." (SOUNDBITE) (English) NINO KUSA, BLAINE FAN, SAYING: "David Blaine is the hero of all of us. I've always been following him and he's a symbol of 'mind over matter' theory, so I support him for that. Definitely." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALI SAKIS, VIEWER, SAYING: "I'm not impressed because, like, the only thing he has to worry about is his physical, like, you know, like him being awake for three days. That's all. There's no real danger."
  • Embargoed: 24th October 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA992RGQ9OL6IRMYFASEGCXUMUA
  • Story Text: Ever the entertainer and illusionist, David Blaine ended his most "electrifying" performance to date.
    After 72 hours without food, surrounded by an artificial lightning storm crackling between low-current million-volt Tesla coils, Blaine's first words upon getting off the 20-foot-high platform on Monday (October 8) were a handful of thank yous to the team who supported him in the event, and to fans of his work.
    Unable to stand on his own, before getting wheeled into an ambulance to get his health checked, Blaine revealed: "This is my last endurance stunt that I'm ever going to do. But I look forward to everything. Love you."
    After being sleep deprived with an empty stomach, Blaine told Reuters the first thing he would do: "I feel like taking a nice long nap, after my shower."
    Blaine's recent stunt grew out of an image he had of himself at the center of a giant plasma globe where audiences in New York City participated by controlling the levels of electricity surrounding him at the Hudson River Park pier.
    The illusionist was dressed in a 20-pound chain-mail suit for three days, shooting purplish arcs of lightning out of his hands all in unison with music.
    "It's a visual thing combined with the music. It's pretty amazing," said Marina Banes, one of the viewers of Blaine during his final hours.
    "David Blaine is the hero of all of us. I've always been following him and he's a symbol of 'mind over matter' theory, so I support him for that," mentioned Nino Kussa.
    But not everyone was a fan.
    "I'm not impressed because the only thing he has to worry about is his physical - like him being awake for three days, that's all. There's no real danger," said Ali Sakis, one of the onlookers.
    Blaine wore noise-canceling earphones because Tesla coils are loud, which allowed him to hear and communicate with people on the ground.
    And to keep him from dehydration, Blaine was provided water through a tube, relieving himself through a catheter and fasting to avoid the need to defecate. A ventilation system ensured Blaine had breathable air, accompanied by a special visor in his helmet, which protected his eyes from the ultraviolet radiation of the arcing electricity.
    Intel Corporation sponsored the event to promote notebook computers that uses its processor technology.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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