| David Blaine's
Above the Below
The Preparation
Blaine claims that his only preparation has been to eat more in an attempt to gain weight, hopefully increasing the body's supply of essential glycogen and delaying it from starting to break down its own muscle tissue.
But the illusionist has not gained as much as he might have done, since when he originally planned the feat he intended to mix glucose with his water supply. Currently weighing in at around 200lb, Blaine anticipates losing some 40lb during the feat of endurance.
Inside
Once inside the box, David's main challenge will be psychological: staying focused on his goal in the face of starvation and the absence of any interaction or mental stimulation.
But Blaine says he doesn't expect to get bored. Instead he'll "start to focus on the smallest things, like breathing." One technique he'll use to keep himself occupied is to imagine he's building a house, piece by piece.
In fact, the illusionist believes he'll experience a higher spiritual state and that living without food and human contact will lead to "the purest state you can be in".
However, he has also said that he expects to start losing his mind during the final stages of his attempt, "days 30 to 44 will be a nightmare".
Expectations
The illusionist seems aware of the dangers he faces during his feat of endurance, but unconcerned about them. This is partly because he doesn't anticipating not succeeding: "I don't plan on failing - I just don't think that way".
That said, Blaine also expects to begin losing his mind during the latter stages of his stay in The Box.
Blaine expects to lose around 40lb during his feat of endurance, roughly a fifth of his current body weight.
The Box
David Blaine will inhabit a plexi-glass box just two and a half feet wide and six feet four inches tall. Two tubes, one to supply water the other to remove urine, will be his only connection to the outside world. Apart from these tubes and Blaine himself, the box will contain the following items:
- Diapers. Until his body has cleared its solid waste, the magician will use diapers for his toilet needs. After this he will need only his urine tube.
- A journal and pens. Blaine intends to keep a diary while inside the box. There won't be much else to do!
- Lip balm. "I've done these kind of things before," says David, "and I know how annoying it is to get chapped lips."
- Pillow and a pad to lie down on.
There will be no temperature control inside The Box, despite the likelihood of cold weather. Thus one of the magician's main problems will be staying warm, especially since the body retains only a third of its normal heat when in starvation mode.
Why
David Blaine says that the idea for this latest feat was sparked when he received a gift of a butterfly, framed in clear plastic. "I thought it would be amazing to see a human being framed in a glass case", he said.
But Blaine is also motivated by the possibility of pushing our perceived boundaries, saying:
"We are all capable of infinitely more than we believe. We are stronger and more resourceful than we know, and we can endure much more than we think we can. In truth, the only restrictions on our capacity to astonish ourselves and each other are imposed by our own minds."
In the week before he entered the pod, the illusionist stated that "it'll be triumphant for a human being to survive this".
Blaine feels the risks are worth taking: "I think it is worth it for my art even if I drop dead."
Danger
Blaine acknowledges that the feat poses a real risk for him, saying, "This could easily be the last thing I do."
Nevertheless he claims not to be anxious, saying, "I don't fear life or death at all. I watched my mother die a very peaceful death. It was beautiful."
Despite the magician's claim the main medical threats posed by his feat are as follows:
- Hypothermia. The Box has no temperature control and the human body retains only one third of it's normal heat during starvation mode, so staying warm enough will be very difficult.
- Organ damage. During the last phase of starvation the body may begin to digest its own internal organs, causing irreversible damage.
- Brain damage. The brain relies on a steady supply of glucose in the blood and may be damaged if this runs out.
- Kidney failure. As the body breaks down tissue to keep going, it creates unusually high levels of acidic waste in the blood, which the kidneys must filter. If blood acid levels rise too high, the kidneys may fail altogether.
Vital Signs
During his stay in The Box, Blaine's isolation means that no doctors will examine him.
The illusionist's only safety check will be a daily urine analysis by his medical team to check for kidney and liver failure.
Blaine claims that the medical team will only intervene if he stops moving completely for two days. However the restrictive size of the box and Blaine's plans to stay still meditating for long periods mean it may be difficult to tell whether he is experiencing difficulty.
Thus by the time any intervention is made, the magician's body could well have sustained serious and permanent damage.
When he is released from The Box, David will be taken directly to hospital where nutritional experts will begin his re-feeding programme and monitor his recovery for approximately one month.
(Source: www.DavidBlaine.com) | |
