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David Blaine Sets World Record, Holds Breath for 17 Minutes
Wednesday April 30, 2008

David Blaine attends the "Red Belt" premiere at the 7th Annual Tribeca Film Festival, Borough of Manhattan Community College, April 25, 2008 in New York.
Bennett Raglin/WireImage.com

Magician David Blaine set a new world record live on Wednesday's Oprah Winfrey Show — he held his breath for 17 minutes and 4 seconds.

The audience cheered as the 35-year-old was pulled from a water-filled sphere by divers after he broke the previous record of 16 minutes and 32 seconds (set in February by Switzerland's Peter Colat).

Blaine inhaled pure oxygen through a mask before the stunt to fill his blood with oxygen, which is permitted under the rules set by Guinness World Records.

He told Winfrey the record was "a lifelong dream."

Blaine has previously garnered international fame by living for a week in a glass coffin in New York.

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Posted by Alissa R at 11:20 am ET Permanent Link | 10 Comments
Categories: David Blaine | Oprah Winfrey

10 Comments

3:22 AM AnonymousJ Says:

I don't think its his nose he should stick his finger up

3:58 PM Anonymous Says:

For his next feat, I heard he's gonna see how far he can stick his finger up his nose.

11:20 PM Anonymous Says:

He is amazing! Better then Whodini!

5:53 PM Glad I'm Not Famous Says:

must've been hard on his mother when he was younger: "I'm gonna hold my breath until you give me some candy!" Mother: "Go right on ahead!"

5:28 PM nut case Says:

That explains a lot about him. I enjoy breathing too. Can't he just fund raise for attention like everyone else?

2:23 PM Jill Says:

I actually watched this this morning. It was very edge of your seat. He had about 30 seconds to go and started coming up to the surface and everyone in the audience (including me at home) started gasping and hoping he would stay under. It was amazing how calm he looked in the water.

1:43 PM Anonymous Says:

Wow, good for David Blaine for setting the record in the guiness book of world records by holding his breath for 17 minutes, and for also living in a coffin for a week before this, etc.

1:39 PM Stella Says:

he's cute...I like his scruffy beard...

12:40 PM Anonymous Says:

Oh for sure has brain damage! That's why he does these stunts. Personally, I enjoy breathing.

12:30 PM Oh Boy Says:

This guy probably has brain damage.