David Blaine is only upside down for 50 minutes per hour

Wednesday, 24 September 2008

David Blaine's latest groundbreaking stunt has been labeled anything but by fans who have seen the US magician repeatedly stand on a platform throughout his marathon upside-down endurance challenge.

The illusionist began a mammoth 60-hour stunt early on Monday, aiming to hang upside-down from a crane in New York's central Park without food or sleep for the entire two and a half days.

But according to Gawker.com - Manhattan's leading celebrity gossip website - bystanders have been emailing in saying that he wasn't hanging upside down, rather resting by standing on a platform for ten minutes per hour before being hoisted back up.

Fan photos sent in to the website clearly showing Blaine standing up
on a crane platform and later hanging with his head in a harness.

David Blaine (WENN image)

But Patrick Smith, executive Vice President at Blaine's representatives Rubenstein Associates wrote in to Gawker to ask the media to lay off their client, saying: "Rubenstein Associates represents David Blaine and I personally have handled publicity for every one of his challenges.

"There has been no claim that David was going to hang upside down for 60 hours without a break. In all of his discussions with the media, he said he would have to occasionally get his head above his heart and lower his legs to correct circulation.

About once every hour, David comes upright for about five minutes for a medical and equipment check. He has something to drink and he relieves himself, something even David can't do upside down.

"His doctors told him quite simply that if he didn't correct blood flow, he could die.

"David began the challenge at 8:34 am Monday and concludes at about 10:45 p.m. Wednesday. That's about 62 hours. Stop by the Wollman Rink, especially Wednesday night, and enjoy the spectacle. It's free.

"And give the guy a break."

David Blaine's official website says he would "attempt to hang from a thin wire five stories in the air – with no safety net or airbag to break his fall."

Just a platform to break the fall then?

Read about how Blaine's latest trick could kill him

Check out more pics of David Blaine and his many stunts in our photo gallery.

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