Illusionist plans to go 44 days without food

ILLUSIONIST David Blaine yesterday embarked on his toughest challenge yet – spending 44 days suspended in a clear plastic box without food.

The American magician is planning to live in a 7ft x 7ft x 3ft box without any distractions or food while dangling over the river Thames in London.

Blaine’s only nourishment throughout the six-week challenge will be water.

He is due to emerge on Sunday, October 19, at 9pm.

Despite much publicity, his death-defying feat will not be recognised by the Guinness Book of Records.

Compilers of the book said they would not actively endorse fasting records and claim the size of his temporary home is not as small as current record holders.

They said Blaine’s previous stunts were left trailing by other record titles.

Guinness World Records chiefs said they were contacted by the 30-year-old magician asking for his feats to be recognised.

But Guinness’s keeper of records Stewart Newport said: “We have never encouraged actively claims for the longest time to voluntarily go without solid food for very clear and obvious reasons.

“If you beat the ‘record’ and then die is it a successful attempt?” he asked.

A Guinness World Records spokeswoman said: “We do wish him well with his latest challenge, but he has got a long way to go to beat the incredible Guinness record holders.”Guinness dismissed his earlier feats, including being buried alive and living in an ice block because he did not beat any records.

Bookmaker Ladbrokes was refusing to take bets on the Blaine stunt.