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Summary
Israeli illusionist Khezi Dean welcomed 2010 with a great achievement on Friday when he broke the record for spending the longest period of time in an ice cube.Shortly after midnight, 29-year-old Dean was helped out of the makeshift ice cube constructed in Tel Aviv's main square. He stayed in it for a full 64 hours with no drink, food nor communication with the outside world. Pending an official Guinness book certification, Dean has broken the previous world record held by the famous David Blaine, who stayed in an ice cube in Times Square for 63 hours and 42 minutes in November 2000.Noam Lior is one of the stunt producers. He spoke to Reuters shortly before Dean was lowered into the box on Tuesday morning. The main idea was to take Khezi's show, the illusion show, one step up. Okay... We wanted to make something new in Israel, because no one is doing this kind of magic, or tricks (at) this time, or ever, Lior said. Lior also said that Dean had been on a special diet for the past couple of months, aimed at preparing him for the three day period without food and drink. An extreme training program combined with yoga helped him cope with the low temperatures and long hours of standing in the eight-tonne ice box. Still, an ambulance waited in the square for the entire duration of the stunt, to make sure help was near in case Dean needed it. Israeli media reported of a scare on Wednesday afternoon when, halfway through the stunt, Dean was spotted laying on the ground in the ice cube. After consultation with medics, he was allowed to remain in the ice and continue the record attempt. Dean started his magic career at the age of nine, working his way up by performing at birthday parties and later in front of paying crowds. He is currently one of the Israelis who perform stunts considered as extreme magic.Israel's Channel 2 news reported on Friday morning that after leaving the ice cube, paramedics at the scene said Dean was exhausted, but responding and vivid otherwise.
