UK: U.S. SHOWMAN DAVID BLAINE STAGGERS SOBBING FROM HIS BOX TO END 44-DAY STARVATION STUNT

Record ID: 190173

  • Title: UK: U.S. SHOWMAN DAVID BLAINE STAGGERS SOBBING FROM HIS BOX TO END 44-DAY STARVATION STUNT
  • Date: 20th October 2003
  • Summary: (W8) LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (OCTOBER 19, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SLV PAN FROM TOWER BRIDGE TO DAVID BLAINE IN HIS BOX; SCU BLAINE IN BOX WAVING AND SMILING; PAN ACROSS CROWD OF PEOPLE (3 SHOTS) 0.27 2. MV BLAINE'S BROTHER MICHAEL 0.32 3. MV BLAINE'S GIRLFRIEND MANON VON GERKAN TALKING TO CHILD/WALKING OVER TO BOX; MV MANON AND BLAINE'S FRIEND HARMONY STANDING TOGETHER LOOKING UP AT HIM; BLAINE IN BOX WAVING; SCU COUNTDOWN SIGN; MV GIRLS SCREAMING (5 SHOTS) 1.07 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED GIRLS SAYING "We think he's amazing we love him. He's gorgeous, he's amazing, he's a great example of mind over matter. We believe, he's only had water, and plus we got to speak to him. We went under the cage thing. He said he loved our banners and we talked to him about the Queen." 1.35 5. (SOUND BITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED BOY SAYING "I don't really think he's gonna go up there for forty four days and fake it all." 1.43 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED MAN SAYING "It was art, it was incredible, it was David Blaine, it's what he does best." 1.53 7. SCU GIRLS SCREAMING "WE LOVE YOU DAVID"; BLAINE WAVING FROM BOX; SCU GIRL FLASHING HER BREASTS; BLAINE LAUGHING; PERSON HOLDING UP BIG HEART SIGN (5 SHOTS) 2.30 8. LAS BLAINE THROWING HIS PILLOW INTO CROWD; MV CROWD CHEERING (3 SHOTS) 2.47 9. LAS BOX BEING LOWERED TO GROUND; PEOPLE WATCHING; BOX BEING STILTED; PEOPLE WATCHING; BLAINE WALKING OUT OF BOX; PEOPLE CHEERING (6 SHOTS) 3.42 10. MV BLAINE SPEAKING ON MICROPHONE/ CRYING "This has been one of the most important experiences of my life. I've learned more in that little box than I have in years." (BLAINE CRYING) 4.19 11. SCU GIRL WATCHING 4.22 12. MV BLAINE WITHOUT SHIRT BEING WEIGHED; SLV/SCU BLAINE WAVING (5 SHOTS) 4.53 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 4th November 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA6AEGYWOOBH8KVATBSWFR8SR13
  • Story Text: U.S. showman David Blaine has staggered sobbing from
    his box in London to end a 44-day starvation stunt.

    He's made it. Visibly thinner, filthy and unshaven,
    David Blaine on Sunday (October 19) broke down as he exited
    his glass box by Tower Bridge which had been his home since
    September 5 - for 44 days. Blaine is reported to have lost
    a minimum of 4 stones.

    Large crowds turned up to countdown the last few
    remaining hours and give their cheers to the man who has
    endured British curiosity, indifference, admiration and
    plain abuse. It's been a mixed and controversial stunt but
    Blaine - always the showman - entertained them all to the
    end, throwing pillows and other belongings from his box to
    the crowds.

    "I have learned to appreciate the simple things in
    life," Blaine said after he exited the box, "I love all of
    you forever."
    Blaine was given a check-up by medical teams before
    being taken to hospital where he will be reintroduced to
    food, a process doctors say is potentially
    life-threatening.

    During the stunt an estimated quarter of a million
    people visited the site to see the 30-year-old New Yorker,
    who says he consumed only water via a tube.

    The stunt divided Britain into Blaine admirers and
    Blaine baiters, sparked a national debate about the merits
    of the feat and even raised questions about the British
    psyche, given the malicious antics of some in the
    anti-Blaine camp.

    Blaine has been verbally abused, taunted with sizzling
    hamburgers, pelted with golf balls and rotten eggs and kept
    awake with drums and foghorns. Someone even tried to cut
    off his water supply.

    Some critics have said his fast insults the world's
    hungry and the memory of hunger strikers who have died.

    Others simply mock him for what they see as a pointless,
    publicity grabbing stunt and many accuse him of cheating.

    But Blaine won a huge female fan club. Women have bared
    their breasts and one woman even ran naked under his box.

    From his box reported to contain only a journal, a
    quilt, a pillow, a change of clothes and a photo of his
    mother Blaine would wave or smile, or write in his
    diary, which is expected to land him a windfall if he
    decides to publish it.


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