Magician Blaine Will be Put Under Ice

N E W  Y O R K, Nov. 21 -- Bury him or freeze him,magician David Blaine vows to survive.

The New York illusionist who buried himself alive for aweek in an underground plastic coffin last year announcedMonday he planned to encase himself in a block of ice for morethan two days near Times Square.

Starting next Monday, the 27-year-old said he would beencased in a 6 ton block of ice for 58 hours onBroadway at West 44th Street with a tube running in providingair and water.

Blaine said in a statement that with the help of thousandsof people who visited his grave in April last year, he wasable to survive. “Now, I ask well-wishers to lend me theirwarmth and support by visiting and touching the block of icein which I will be frozen.”

Inspired by Houdini

Blaine, whose feats are inspired by those of legendarymagician and escape artist Harry Houdini 100 years ago, spentseven days buried and visible through the clear coffin,sustained only by water.

Publicists for the “Frozen in Time” event said two halvesof the block of ice with Blaine’s body contour cut into it willclose around him and be welded together. They said Blaine wouldbe wearing only a pair of pants and boots to protect himself.

Described as Blaine’s most dangerous stunt, his vitalsigns will be monitored by doctors and he has worked out eyesignals to use in case of an emergency.

“The biggest dangers are loss of circulation and frostbitein his fingers and toes, and the threat of falling asleep inwhich case his head could slump, bringing his face intocontact with the ice, damaging his skin,” Blaine’s medicalconsultant, Dr. Ronald Rudin, said. “There is also the dangerof blood clots which could break loose and move to the brainor other vital organs as David is being broken out of theice.”

Blaine hopes to end the stunt on the night of Nov. 29during a live ABC-TV special, David Blaine: Frozen in Time.