Ice block trial for magician

David Blane was buried alive for a week

American magician David Blaine plans to encase himself in a block of ice in New York for more than two days.

The illusionist, 27, who was buried alive for a week earlier this year, said he would be fully within the ice for 58 hours, at a site near Times Square.

Blaine will be wearing only a pair of trousers and boots, and a tube will feed him air and water.

"I ask well-wishers to lend me their warmth and support by visiting and touching the block of ice in which I will be frozen," he has said in a statement.

Blood clots...could break loose and move to the brain or other vital organs as David is being broken out of the ice

Dr Ronald Rudin

Blaine spent seven days buried in the plastic coffin, kept alive by water fed through a tube.

This time, two halves of a block of ice with his body contour cut into it will be welded around him.

The stunt has been described as the magician's most dangerous to date.

His heartbeat will be monitored by doctors and he has worked out eye signals to use in case of an emergency.

"The biggest dangers are loss of circulation and frostbite in his fingers and toes, and the threat of falling asleep in which case his head could slump, bringing his face into contact with the ice, damaging his skin," his medical consultant, Dr Ronald Rudin, said.

"There is also the danger of blood clots which could break loose and move to the brain or other vital organs as David is being broken out of the ice."

Blaine will enter the ice on Monday 27 November and plans to come out two days later during a live ABC-TV special, David Blaine: Frozen in Time.

His exploits can also be seen via a webcam on his website.