Severely weakened by 44 days of self-imposed starvation, American magician David Blaine on Sunday prepared to leave the clear plastic box that for the last six weeks has been his home — and a major London tourist attraction.

American magician David Blaine sits in his clear plastic box, top right, as hundreds of fans gather near Tower Bridge, London in the final hours of Blaine's 44 day long self-imposed endurance stunt, Sunday Oct. 19, 2003.  [AP]

Thousands of spectators were expected to watch Blaine exit the box, suspended by a crane near Tower Bridge, where he has lived on only water since Sept. 5. Sky TV, which is broadcasting the exit, said he would be placed on a stretcher and taken to a private hospital.

Londoners spent the first few weeks of Blaine's incarceration taunting the New York illusionist, pelting his box with eggs or zapping him with laser pens. One man was arrested for firing paint-filled balloons at the box, which measures 7 foot by 7 foot by 3 foot, and another was fined for trying to damage the water supply.

But in recent weeks ridicule has turned to respect, prompting large crowds of well wishers to gather by the Thames River and watch Blaine grow thinner, hairier and more disheveled. Sky estimated that 250,000 spectators had visited the site since the start of the experiment, and traffic in surrounding streets has been snarled for weeks due to the large numbers of people driving through the area to catch a glimpse.

Blaine, 30, who has previously been buried alive and encased in a block of ice, says the feat is both the hardest and "the most beautiful" thing he's done. His box allegedly contains only a quilt, a pillow, a journal, a change of clothes and a photo of the magician's mother.

U.S. magician and illusionist David Blaine emerges from his box. [AP]

A medical briefing issued Saturday said the magician was experiencing dizziness and nausea, and warned that he might die if he resumes normal eating habits too soon after his exit.

"Inappropriate feeding can precipitate serious problems including sudden death," said the briefing by Marinos Elia, a professor at the Institute of Human Nutrition at the University of Southampton.

Sky said Elia had been monitoring Blaine's urine and water supply and had made two unannounced visits to the site.

Before he entered the box, Blaine said he had bulked up to more than 205 pounds so he could survive on his own body fat. He said he expected to lose at least 45 pounds during the stunt.

Dehydration also was a threat, but Elia said the magician had been drinking enough water to prevent that.

Skeptics have suggested Blaine could easily add some nutrients to his water, but the medical briefing said tests for alcohol, glucose and sodium had found nothing.

In the box suspended 40 feet above the River Thames' south bank, cold nights are having a draining effect on Blaine, and he has experienced shooting pains, dizziness, nausea and irregular heartbeats, Elia said.

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On the Net:

David Blaine: www.davidblaine.com

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