The American illusionist David Blaine held his breath over 17 minutes, thus setting a new world record in this category. The 35-year-old Blaine accomplished this feat on the air of a program watched by millions of viewers “The Oprah Winfrey Show”. After immersing in a tank filled with water, for over 20 minutes he breathed pure oxygen through the mask, to saturate the blood with it and cleanse itself of carbon dioxide. Only after this preparation did he hold his breath 17 minute i 4 seconds. Blaine explained, that he had entered a meditative state under water. However, he admitted, that he was concerned about the success of his venture, because he did not manage to slow down his heart enough. The previous record in apnea belonged to Swiss Peter Colat, which he withstood without air 16 minute i 32 seconds. It was entered in the Guinness Book of Records in February this year. Blaine made an attempt to set a record in this category already in 2006 R., however then, without first breathing pure oxygen, after seven minutes he passed out. A famous illusionist declared, that he then plans to beat the current amount 11 world record days without sleep. Equal to that – even if he succeeds – he is not expected to enter the Guinness Book of Records: for health reasons, this category was withdrawn from it.
The new record holder in apnea also has other achievements to his credit. W 2000 R. spent 63 hours locked in a block of ice, and in 2004 R. he withstood 44 days without food, suspended in a transparent chamber above the Thames.
World record for holding your breath
