Blaine escapes from latest stunt

American illusionist David Blaine has escaped – again.

Shackled to a spinning gyroscope and hovering forty feet above New York’s Times Square, the magician managed to free himself at about 2.15pm local time yesterday, bringing an end to his latest stunt.

A dehydrated and weakened Blaine, who had been inside the gyroscope for 52 hours without food or water, landed on a wooden platform after jumping from the hanging gyroscope.

He was strapped into the contraption on Tuesday and his goal was to be out by 2pm yesterday.

The 33-year-old magician was not injured.

The gyroscope, with three spinning steel rings, flipped Blaine in assorted directions as often as eight times per minute. He had no protection from chilly, rainy weather other than his clothing – including a black nylon ski jacket with matching pants.

The stunt was part of a promotion for Target.

This morning, Blaine will lead 100 children and their families selected by The Salvation Army on a shopping expedition at a Target in Jersey City, with each family receiving gift vouchers.

Blaine has said this stunt was particularly important to him since The Salvation Army had provided him with clothing while he was growing up.

In May, Blaine spent some 177 hours underwater in an endurance stunt. Previously, he spent 35 hours balanced atop a 100-foot pole and was buried alive in a see-through coffin for a week. He also spent 61 hours inside a block of ice.