Magician's thriller on a pillar

Crowds gathered to watch the stunt

Illusionist David Blaine has headed up an 80ft pillar in New York, which he will jump off after 35 hours in his latest death-defying stunt.

A crane lifted Blaine on a demolition ball to the top of the pillar in a Bryant Park next to Manhattan's swanky Fifth Avenue.

Blaine has previously spent 61 hours encased in a block of ice and has been buried underground for a week, all in the name of magic.

Blaine spent 61 hours encased in ice

His latest effort raised cheers from hundreds of fans who had gathered to watch his ordeal.

He will stand on the pillar until Thursday morning, before jumping onto a pile of corrugated cardboard boxes.

The pillar is only 22 inches wide at the top and Blaine will not have a safety harness.

Two handles on either side of Blaine - whose idol is escapologist Harry Houdini - will be his only defence in the event of high winds.

The 29-year-old went without food for four days before mounting the platform and has only a minimal water supply with him to prevent dehydration. He will urinate through a tube.

Shown live

"See you guys in about 35 hours," Blaine told reporters as he was lifted by the crane.

The end of the stunt and Blaine's leap will be shown live on a American television.

When asked why his public spectacles have been endurance tests rather than magical feats, Blaine said a magic-themed stunt would be "the next thing".

Blaine will end the feat by jumping off

"We're still working on it. But endurance is also important to me because it represents something greater... it's a sign of trying to do your best to do something."

Before making the ascent he said he was confident there would be no hiccups.

"I've got no worries. My aim is to overcome my greatest fears and this time I am addressing my fear of heights."

To prepare for his latest feat he has trained with high fall specialist Bob Brown who has served as stunt double for Hollywood stars Nicolas Cage and Kevin Spacey.

The pillar was going to be 100ft tall but his team realised the speed of the fall could kill him.

A medical team and emergency personnel will be standing by throughout the ordeal.