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Posted By Sara-Lise Haith on 1 January 1970
Magician David Blaine has set a world record by holding his breath for 17 minutes and four seconds on Oprah Winfrey's US TV show in Chicago. Mr. Blaine had breathed 100% oxygen before commencing this breathhold.
Blaine, 35 years of age and who has already failed in an attempt to break the record for breath-holding under water, was wearing a silver wetsuit when he went into a sphere filled with about 8,200 litres (1,800 gallons) of water.
He was actually pulled out of the water-filled sphere, and then said he had begun to doubt if he would achieve his goal as he considered his heart rate too high. The previous record, which was 32 seconds shorter, was set in February.
Setting the record was "a lifelong dream", he told Winfrey, which he said had been achieved by being in a meditative state throughout. When Oprah aslked him what he was thinking about during his time in the water, he apparently replied: "You."
Blaine has done other stunts, such as spending a week in a coffin, balancing on top of a 100ft (30m) pole, was encased in ice for two-and-a-half days, and fasting for 44 days in a box.