Blaine electrified for latest stunt

NEW YORK, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- David Blaine says he doubts he "could ever top" his latest stunt, in which he stands on a pillar in chain mail as electricity passes across his body in New York

Blaine, 39, began his "Electrified: One Million Volts Always On" stunt Friday night at Pier 54, Sky News reported. Plans called for him to stand atop a 20-foot column for 72 hours as seven Tesla coils controlled by viewers in London, Beijing, Tokyo and Sydney zap him with electricity.

"I had wanted to do this for years," Blaine said before beginning the stunt. "I don't know how I could ever top this. This is an overly ambitious idea, and I'm literally shocked that it came together."

Blaine told The Daily Telegraph that to prepare for the event, he gave himself mild electric shocks at home.

"Seventy-two hours or more in an electromagnetic field can do anything to the brain," he said. "There are a lot of unknowns here."

Blaine's doctor, Stuart Weiss, said the stunt's main risk is exposure to ozone and nitrous oxides, which are byproducts of ionized air, the Telegraph reported. The doctor said humans should not inhale those chemicals in large quantities, so ventilation was installed to ensure Blaine has breathable air.

The illusionist has been equipped with a special visor to protect his eyes from the ultraviolet radiation of the electricity, and noise-canceling earphones so he can communicate with his crew on the ground.