Show must go on for weary Blaine

MAGICIAN David Blaine says he is in “pretty bad shape” as he nears the end of his latest feat — a week in an aquarium — but vowed to go through with his finale of holding his breath underwater for nearly nine minutes.

The 33-year-old, wearing a helmet that allows two-way communication, has been submerged in the 8ft sphere since last Monday.

“Everything is still on as planned, and I’m going to give it my best shot,” he said yesterday from his sphere perched on the plaza of Lincoln Centre of the Performing Arts.

He said he “will do his best” to complete the feat despite peeling skin, sharp pains in his joints and a severe earache.

He planned to put on chains, remove his oxygen tube and then escape while holding his breath longer than the record of eight minutes, 58 seconds.

“If I don’t get out of the chains and I black out in nine minutes, which is about the length of time it would take these guys here (who) have been preparing a stretcher to pull my body out and do what they have to do, so I have to have faith that they know what they are doing,” Blaine said.

His previous feats include balancing on a 22-inch circular platform atop a 100-foot pole for 35 hours and fasting for 44 days in a suspended acrylic box.