DAVID BLAINE - BLAINE ESCAPES NEW YORK SHACKLES

BLAINE ESCAPES NEW YORK SHACKLES

US magician DAVID BLAINE took just 15 minutes to escape from his shackles four stories high over New York's Times Square yesterday (23NOV06) after two days in a spinning gyroscope. The 33-year-old was strapped into the contraption and hoisted by crane above the streets on Tuesday (21NOV06). He spent 48 hours spinning while exposed to wintry weather conditions but still managed to thrill crowds on Thanksgiving with a dramatic exit. Blaine plunged through a plywood stage below him and, despite the heavy fall giving him a limp, he briefly greeted fans before being whisked away in a taxi. The stunt's success means 100 children selected by The Salvation Army will be treated to a Christmas shopping expedition. Each child will receive a $500 (GBP278) gift certificate from retailer Target.