American illusionist David Blaine was spending his final night starving in a glass boxtonight amid warnings that he could die when he starts taking food again.
For the last 43 days Blaine has been suspended in the small, transparentcontainer next to London's Tower Bridge, with water apparently his onlysustenance.
In the run-up to his release tomorrow evening, there has been speculation thatthe American magician may have tricked the public during his 44-day stunt.
But according to the latest official medical briefing on his condition, Blaineshows signs of starvation.
His re-introduction to food must be managed carefully to avoid potentiallyserious problems, including sudden death from "re-feeding syndrome", thebriefing said.
Nutrition expert Professor Marinos Elia, who prepared the briefing, saidBlaine showed several symptoms of starvation and appeared "visibly thinner"than when he entered his box.
The water which has been the only substance Blaine has consumed during thestunt contained no detectable solids, such as glucose or sodium, according toProfessor Elia from the University of Southampton.
Blaine has suffered dizziness and temporary visual problems "as if blackingout" when he stands up and he has felt weaker and more lethargic, the briefingsaid.
The cold nights have also had "a draining effect" on him.
"These features, which are typical of starvation, have also been accompaniedby other symptoms, such as shooting pains in different parts of his body,abdominal discomfort, nausea, and some irregular heart beats."
The briefing concluded: "There is a need for careful nutritional and clinicalmanagement of David Blaine after the fast, not only because of the specificsymptoms he has experienced during the fast, but also because inappropriatefeeding can precipitate serious problems including sudden death (the re-feedingsyndrome)."
He said the magician could take as long as six months to recover his musclestrength and be fully restored to fitness.
Blaine's girlfriend, Manon van Gerkan, who has been in regular contact andmounted a vigil outside his box to ward off egg throwers, said she was lookingforward to seeing him.
The self-styled Houdini is expected to be released from his glass cell between9pm and 10pm tomorrow before a crowd of thousands.He will be placed on a stretcher and taken from the scene to a privatehospital.
PA