Magician and endurance performer David Blaine has successfully performed a new stunt – the first he has attempted in a decade – which saw him floating almost 25,000ft above the Arizona desert, holding onto nothing but a bunch of helium balloons.
David has been working on the challenge – called ‘Ascension’ – for some time, in the hope of generating a more upbeat, feel-good response from his audience, capitalising on the goodwill and positivity that balloons bring.
The stunt, which took place on Wednesday 2 September, used 52 oversized helium-filled balloons. It was originally due to take place in New York City on 31 August, but was moved to Arizona due to weather conditions.
David initially created this latest event with his daughter in mind, saying that it was created ‘to inspire her, rather than scare her’.
The stunt was live-streamed to millions via his official YouTube channel. It already has over 10 million views.