Post by Rio's Back Pocket on May 9, 2006 14:04:51 GMT
David Blaine, Waiting to Exhale: 'This Is a Total Failure.'
by Mike Baron
May 9, 2006
David Blaine desires to be the new Houdini, but he has resembled the boy in the bubble more than the famed illusionist when he had to be rescued from a giant aquarium in Manhattan last night after he blacked out while trying to set a world record for breath-holding.
The 33-year-old Brooklyn-born magician, who spent 177 hours in the water-filled sphere, wasn't fishing for compliments after the disappointing end to his adventure.
"This is a failure," he told his staff from a stretcher before being rushed to Roosevelt Hospital by ambulance. "This is a total failure."
It began last Monday when the illusionist\magician lowered himself into a water-filled plastic sphere at Lincoln Center. And culminated with his attempt to shatter the world record for holding ones breath for nearly 9 minutes.
Blaine began the stunt with water being removed to form an 'air bubble' created for him to prepare for the stunt. A Diver handcuffed Blaine in chains and slowly the water was returned to a level over his head.
At 5:45 Blaine loosened the first chain, then at 7:00 he removed his second hand from the chain. He then blacked out and was unable to proceed and had to be assisted from the confines of the tank.
A black-out is due to lack of oxygen to the brain which causes the whole body to shut down. Members of Blaine's support team, Performance FreeDiving International, immediately jumped in the sphere and helped recover David out of the water. While one diver pinched Blaine's nose and closed his mouth to prevent him from swallowing water, which could be fatal, another diver freed him from the chains and brought him to the surface. Once clear of the water he immediately started to recover.
"I am humbled so much by the support of everybody from New York city and all over the world," Blaine said after the medical team removed the oxygen tank.
"This was a very difficult week, but you all made it fly by with your strong spirit, your energy, thank you so much everybody."
"I thank you all and I love you all," he said crying, wrapped in towels and supported by the divers.
The official time for the stunt was 7:08. David Blaine did not accomplish his goal but he did spend more time underwater then any other living human being (177 hours) and solidified his place as the modern day Harry Houdini.
Blaine lived in the sphere, along with 2,000 gallons of 98.6-degree water, since May 1.
by Mike Baron
May 9, 2006
David Blaine desires to be the new Houdini, but he has resembled the boy in the bubble more than the famed illusionist when he had to be rescued from a giant aquarium in Manhattan last night after he blacked out while trying to set a world record for breath-holding.
The 33-year-old Brooklyn-born magician, who spent 177 hours in the water-filled sphere, wasn't fishing for compliments after the disappointing end to his adventure.
"This is a failure," he told his staff from a stretcher before being rushed to Roosevelt Hospital by ambulance. "This is a total failure."
It began last Monday when the illusionist\magician lowered himself into a water-filled plastic sphere at Lincoln Center. And culminated with his attempt to shatter the world record for holding ones breath for nearly 9 minutes.
Blaine began the stunt with water being removed to form an 'air bubble' created for him to prepare for the stunt. A Diver handcuffed Blaine in chains and slowly the water was returned to a level over his head.
At 5:45 Blaine loosened the first chain, then at 7:00 he removed his second hand from the chain. He then blacked out and was unable to proceed and had to be assisted from the confines of the tank.
A black-out is due to lack of oxygen to the brain which causes the whole body to shut down. Members of Blaine's support team, Performance FreeDiving International, immediately jumped in the sphere and helped recover David out of the water. While one diver pinched Blaine's nose and closed his mouth to prevent him from swallowing water, which could be fatal, another diver freed him from the chains and brought him to the surface. Once clear of the water he immediately started to recover.
"I am humbled so much by the support of everybody from New York city and all over the world," Blaine said after the medical team removed the oxygen tank.
"This was a very difficult week, but you all made it fly by with your strong spirit, your energy, thank you so much everybody."
"I thank you all and I love you all," he said crying, wrapped in towels and supported by the divers.
The official time for the stunt was 7:08. David Blaine did not accomplish his goal but he did spend more time underwater then any other living human being (177 hours) and solidified his place as the modern day Harry Houdini.
Blaine lived in the sphere, along with 2,000 gallons of 98.6-degree water, since May 1.
Pillock.
