|
The Post Chronicle™ Tittle-Tattle™ Illusionist David Blaine is to live underwater for a week in a human-sized aquarium outside of New York's Lincoln Center. Armed with little more than an oxygen tube, a pair of pants, goggles, and a catheter, Blaine lowered himself into an 8-foot sphere filled with water shortly after 1 p.m. Monday and began his latest stunt aimed at defying physics and illiciting wows from the public. The Brooklyn-born magician grabbed a couple of hours of sleep and was snatching "little naps" between waving and smiling at a continual stream of well-wishers in New York yesterday. His hands are shriveled and sore, yet Blaine keeps up his fish-in-water act. "The hands have been pretty bad, but everything else is good," Blaine told the Daily News in an interview from the bubble as he peeled off a glove to reveal his prune-like fingers ... I wasn't prepared for the hands - that's a little bit of a scary sign because all the skin is starting to come off," he said. "My body's responding, but it's also coping. It could be a lot worse."
Blaine alternated between a diving helmet, which allows him to conduct media interviews, and a simple mouthpiece attached to a breathing tube. He also reportedly passes the time practicing holding his breath for his ABC television special next Monday. The Daily News had this to say: 'In a stunt reminiscent of Houdini, Blaine will be thrown into the water in chains, minus breathing gear - and plans to hold his breath for nine minutes. The crowd was almost entirely supportive, with teen girls holding signs proposing marriage, grown women mouthing "you're hot" and one man kissing the glass. "Pretty amazing, just amazing," said Firefighter Pete Zaccariello, 21, of Engine 23, on W. 58th St. "I'm not brave enough to do something like that - he's risking his life for our entertainment." Richard Washington, 29, a law clerk from Brooklyn, said, "I wouldn't do it, but I feel like somebody's got to do it, and nobody else is doing something this wild."' Blaine is reportedly thrilled that New Yorkers are friendlier than the crowds who pelted eggs and golf balls at him when the loony attention grabber spent 61 hours in ice and 44 days fasting in a glass box suspended over London's River Thames in 2003. A spokesperson for the star said: "Anytime he's done anything in New York, the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive .. New Yorkers are cool about this thing." This latest escapade will end after seven days and seven nights of underwater pananoramas with Blaine attempting to break the record for holding one's breath underwater. "I'll get out, or I'll die," Blaine, 33, told hundreds of onlookers Monday before entering the water. After the week is up, the 33-year-old will also remove his air supply and attempt to break the world record for holding his breath - currently set at eight minutes 58 seconds. The finale is to be broadcast live on ABC May 8 in a special titled "David Blaine: Drowned Alive." Related Magician David Blaine Takes A Dive For New Publicity Stunt -- Compiled from wire reports
Top of Page PostChronicle.com is best viewed with an 800x600 screen resolution |
