David Blaine Cheating with Latest?

David Blaine, the 35-year-old illusionist and magician, who is known for death-defying, limit-pushing stunts is not actually hanging upside down over Central Park for an entire 60 consecutive hours as news reports previously suggested.

At 29 hours and counting, Blaine's medical advisor, Doctor Massimo Napolitano, told AFP that his patient's blood pressure, vital signs, and internal organs all seemed to be working fine.

But is he actually hanging upside down for the entire 60 plus hours? The answer is a somewhat disappointing no.

According to Patrick Smith of Rubenstein Associates, in a statement sent to gawker.com, Blaine admitted he would have to be upright for periods of time during the stunt so that his blood flow would self-correct. His doctors told him he could die if he didn't. Rubenstein Associates are David Blaine's publicity managers.

So how much time is David Blaine actually spending in an upright position? Again, according to the Rubenstein Associates statement, Blaine stands upright on a platform for about five minutes each hour. During that time, his suspension equipment and vital signs are checked and he takes in liquids and urinates. Blaine's original intention was to drink fluids and urinate via a catheter while staying in a suspended state. Gravity, however, would not allow this to happen.

Spectator photos show Blaine's head being held upright in a harness. For photos of David Blaine's not-so-amazing standing portion of his 60 hours, see the gawker.com article listed under Resources.

As anyone who has undergone inversion therapy for back problems or other ailments might suggest, even 45 minutes in an inverted position can take a toll on the body. Sixty hours with five minute breaks each hour must magnify the stress on the body.

ABC will televise a two hour long special "David Blaine: Dive of Death" on Wednesday, September 24, 2008, from 9:00 to 11:00 PM EST.

Harry Houdini, the magician and showman who died in 1926 and who Blaine claims inspired these endurance stunts, at least performed the feats he said he would do. Houdini did not have agents to issue explanations when reality did not match audience expectations.

For more information see my previous report on this latest David Blaine stunt.

Resources:
AFP. "Batman Blaine doing 'fine' says doctor".
"David Blaine cannot pee upside down". My Park Magazine.
Hamilton Nolan. "David Blaine: Cheater", Gawker.com.
http://abc.go.com/specials/davidblaine/index?pn=index