A King of Magic David Blaine will attempt to stay awake for longer than anyone has before in his latest record-breaking stunt, it was claimed today.The illusionist is expected to appear in New York’s Central Park next May.
And he said he is already training for something - despite refusing to confirm what the new performance would be.
Celebrity columnist Cindy Adams reported: “He’ll break the world record for staying awake. “Understand, David neither confirmed nor denied his coming feat. But, trust me. I mean, trust me. I mean, who do you believe? David Blaine Himself - or me!”
Cornwall’s Tony Wright claims the current world record for sleep deprivation - after staying awake for more than 11 days, or 266 hours.
His attempt does not feature in Guinness World Records because it has stopped acknowledging such attempts for health reasons.
Blaine - who refused to explicitly confirm the sleep stunt was taking place - told the New York Post he was already training. He said: “I’m dropping 30 pounds.
“I do two hours every day on the treadmill. I’m on a raw diet that includes brown rice. No red meat. No animal products besides cooked fish.
“If I do this thing, which you claim I’m doing, I’ll do it on my feet. Standing up. It’s been tried before. In 1959, Peter Tripp stayed awake eight days, but it resulted in permanent brain damage. In 1964, 17-year-old Randy Gardner did it for a high school science project.
He lasted 111/2 days but recovered fully. No damage. A guy in London tried but fell short. Another did 19 hours but slept two hours each night, so that doesn’t count. Also he was seated in a rocking chair.”
He added: “After 36 hours of sleep deprivation it’s like being drunk, 72 hours and paranoia sets in, Day Four the mind goes into hallucinations and you’re dreaming while awake. The problem is there’s no way to know how to offset brain damage or to train for this because there isn’t sufficient research. I believe the first guy’s mistake was not being in great physical condition. Also he used stimulants to keep awake, which I assume did him in.”
He continued: “Basically I’m a human guinea pig pushing the borders of human endurance, so I’ve spent the last year and a half figuring out this next step. Preparing for it. Prepare, study, train, learn and you face the fear. When I know something’s coming I’m not afraid.
If right now a giant spider suddenly landed on me, I’d be terrified. But if I knew one’s about to land on me, I’d prepare for it. “The way to train against fear is to prep against it.”
A spokesman for Blaine was unavailable for comment.
New York-born Blaine, 34, has previously spent more than a month suspended in a transparent plastic box above the river Thames in London, and frozen in a case of ice in New York’s Times Square, among other stunts.