David Blaine is giving Mr. Fredricksen a run for his money with his recent stunt of ascending over 24,000 feet in the air with nothing but 52 helium-filled balloons. I wonder if he found Paradise Falls while up there.
David Blaine is a magician, illusionist, street performer, whathaveyou who is known for his endurance stunts, and his all-around extremities as a performer. At just 4-years-old, he was introduced to magic by a street performer while waiting for the subway in Brooklyn, New York. He also dipped his toes in acting with his attendance at the prestigious Neighborhood Playhouse drama school. Blaine did a few TV commercials and soap operas, however, magic was always the end-game.
Back in 1997, he sent in a performance tape to ABC that quickly led to Blaine releasing his special, David Blaine: Street Magic with David Blaine: Magic Man proceeding two years after the first special. Blaine continued his street magic and made quite the name for himself with A-list celebrities like Robert De Niro (who apparently almost starred in a movie about Blaine), Madonna, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson – just to name a few.
Now in 2020, David Blaine has pulled a stunt that makes my palms sweat whenever I think about it. He ascended over 24,000 feet in the Arizona desert with 52 helium balloons. However, it took over a decade to prepare for since this stunt as it is not an easy one to attempt (I mean, no shit). The illusionist had to complete 500 airplane jumps, earn a hot-air balloon piloting license, and study wind patterns. While in the air, his blood oxygen saturation levels had to be monitored to avoid hypoxia, a condition where the body’s oxygen levels get too low.
A team also kept in constant communication with Blaine to ensure his safety up in the air and his daughter, Dessa, gave him words of encouragement. From lift-off to landing, the entire stunt was done within one hour. His inspiration for this stunt comes from a French fantasy movie called The Red Balloon, or Le Ballon Rouge, about a boy who is floats across Paris with balloons. David Blaine tells the New York Post about his inspiration, “Then, around 12 years ago, I had a friend draw sketches of me floating away. It’s my dream: grabbing a bunch of balloons and just lifting off.”
Blaine begins to take off after 1:50:00. The original plan was actually for David Blaine to take flight across the Hudson River from New Jersey to New York City. The plan was changed due to unpredictable wind conditions. His daughter, Dessa, also attached a pink balloon for her father’s ascension.
Funny enough, Blaine had only seen the Pixar movie, Up, weeks prior to the stunt and thought it was great. Now, ladies and gents, I am sure you don’t need me to tell you to not try this at home, but just in case… do not try this at home. If you want other stunts to fixate on, look at this Jackass duct taped to a billboard.
