NEW YORK:

Illusionist David Blaine was pulled out of a water-filled sphere on May 8 after failing to hold his breath for nine minutes inside the bubble that had been his underwater home for seven days.

Two divers jumped into the tank as Blaine appeared to struggle while removing chains that had been placed on his hands and feet. His official time was seven minutes and eight seconds, short of the world record of eight minutes and 58 seconds.

The 33-year-old American was dramatically lifted up in front of a crowd in the plaza of New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts after seven days in the bubble in which he had breathed and eaten through tubes.

He was quickly attended to by rescuers who gave him oxygen. Blaine had spent the past week inside the 2.45 metre high glass sphere.

The water and pressure had taken a toll on Blaine’s body, worrying doctors at the scene who expressed concern about his attempt to hold his breath for a record-breaking nine minutes.

Before holding his breath for the grand finale, Blaine’s hands and feet were heavily chained. His trainers stood outside the bubble, encouraging him to relax and telling him he was doing well.

After more than four minutes of apnea, the illusionist began removing the handcuffs. But his mouth began to quiver and nearly seven minutes into the stunt the rescuers dove into the tank.