David Blaine Sets New World Record; Holds Breath for 17 Minutes

Enetertainer/magician/bat-shit-crazy human being David Blaine recently set a new world’s record for holding his breath for an astonishing 17 minutes 4 seconds underwater. The feat occurred on the set of Oprah in Chicago.

“I feel great,” the silver wetsuit-clad American said as he was pulled to the surface. “I actually started to doubt I was going to make it because I’d never done it with such a high heart rate.”

Blaine said he had managed it by staying in a meditative state which was helped by the stage lights reflecting off the sphere.

His assistants said during the event that his heart rate should have dropped far lower than it did.

Two years ago, he failed in an attempt to break the record for holding his breath underwater while simultaneously escaping from heavy chains.

Before the latest attempt inside a sphere filled with 1,800 gallons of water, Blaine spent 23 minutes inhaling pure oxygen, packing his lungs with extra oxygen just before the breathing tubes were removed.

“There’s no enhancement, no cheating,” he told Winfrey, adding that while he makes his living as a magician, his stunts were about pushing the limits of the human body.

This guy scared the shit out of me before, but knowing now that if I were to engage him physically, and choke him, that I’d have to labor for an excruciatingly long 17 minutes at least before he’d be unconscious, makes me wonder if he’s actually a real person. Who’s with me?