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DAVID BLAINE: FROZEN IN TIME PRESS RELEASE
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BURIED ALIVE MYSTIFIER DAVID BLAINE FACES MOST DANGEROUS CHALLENGE -- TO BE FROZEN IN TIME
Asks Public to Visit Him During 58-Hour Icebound Ordeal in Times Square
NEW YORK November 20 -- Master Mystifier David Blaine, who amazed the world last year when he was buried alive for seven days, today announced that he is undertaking a dangerous new challenge, to be frozen in a six-ton block of ice for 58 hours.
"Once again, this outstanding young man will test the limits of human endurance, using
will-power to overcome the pain of being frozen alive," said James L. Nederlander, President of The Nederlander Producing Company of America, Inc., and producer of Blaine廣 "Buried Alive" and "Frozen in Time" challenges.
"In the spirit of the great Harry Houdini, who brought magic to the world with challenges like this 100 years ago, we are providing this amazing drama free to New Yorkers and visitors to our city," Nederlander added.
Blaine, 27, who has followed a grueling fitness regimen to prepare for his new challenge, stood up to his waist in a block of ice as he described the details and dangers of being frozen in time.
"With the help and support of more than 100,000 people who came to visit my grave last year, I was able to endure for seven days," Blaine said. "Now, I ask well-wishers to lend me their warmth and support by visiting -- and touching -- the block of ice in which I will be frozen."
Blaine fans also can visit his website at www.davidblaine.com, which will provide round-the-clock live coverage of his latest challenge.
On Monday, November 27, at Noon, Blaine will be encased in an six-ton block of ice at Broadway at 44th Street. Two halves of an eight-foot by six-foot by six foot block of ice, with Blaine廣 body contour cut into it, will close around Blaine and be welded together.
The "Frozen in Time" site will be open to the public for the entire time of the challenge so people can walk in from Broadway and touch the ice in which Blaine is locked, standing in an upright position.
Blaine廣 only lifeline is a tube running through the ice, carrying air and water. A medical team will be standing by, monitoring his vital signs, throughout the ordeal. He has worked out eye signals with his support staff in case of emergency.
"The biggest dangers are loss of circulation and frostbite in his fingers and toes, and the threat of falling asleep, in which case his head could slump, bringing his face into contact with the ice, damaging the skin," said Ronald Rudin, MD, Blaine廣 medical consultant. "There also is the danger of blood clots which could break loose and move to the brain or other vital organs as David is being broken out of the ice."
"The mythic magician Harry Houdini has been an inspiration for my work," Blaine said. "In his 1922 movie, The Man from Beyond, there is an image of Houdini frozen in ice, although he never actually tried this challenge. That movie premiered at The Times Square Theater at 42nd and Broadway, so I wanted to be frozen in time here in Times Square."
Blaine has been preparing by immersing himself in tubs of ice and attempting to acclimate himself to cold temperatures. He will be wearing only a pair of pants and boots to protect himself.
The world record for lying down in an ice encasement is 57 minutes. Blaine will not only attempt to break that record, but, if he is successful, set a new record for standing still in ice. Hypothermia and muscle spasms are among the other serious dangers Blaine will face in attempting to complete his endurance test.
The public may visit Blaine live in the ice 24 hours a day, and may witness his breakout from the ice in person or watch the breakout live during his TV special, David Blaine: Frozen in Time at 10 p.m. Wednesday, November 29, on ABC.
Blaine drew worldwide attention when he was buried alive April 5 - 12, 1999, lying in a see-through coffin under a tank holding four tons of water. The young mystifier cited Houdini as his inspiration for this feat also.
Nederlander, a member of the third generation of the celebrated family known worldwide for outstanding theatrical productions, cultural presentations and popular musical attractions, says he is thrilled to be a part of Blaine廣 newest challenge.
The website, www.davidblaine.com, includes video clips from Blaine廣 past television specials, interactive illusions, a biographical photo gallery and David Blaine "favorites" page, and a sign-up page for a David Blaine email newsletter. Plans for additional programming include ongoing forums and chats, a David Blaine radio channel, multimedia-enabled e-postcards and more.
The live web coverage will provide viewers a virtual, interactive front seat to Blaine廣 amazing test of how much cold the human body can endure. Through the conclusion of Blaine廣 challenge on November 29, fans will be able to view and chat with Blaine in real-time, have access to all his key vital statistics and also speak, via chat, with doctors, experts and even avalanche survivors who can tell of similar freezing experiences.
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