American illusionist David Blaine has come up with yet another idea to test his endurance: this time, to hang upside down, like a bat, for nearly three days, over the Wollmann ice rink in Manhattan’s Central Park.

David Blaine’s most recent endurance test commenced Monday morning, when he was hoisted high in the air over the Wollmann ice rink in Central Park and he began hanging upside down from a metal frame.

Which he wants to do for 60 hours and thus establish a world record. Of hanging upside down. There is a catch though. His doctors expressed concern that he is exposing himself to health risks by standing in such an unnatural position for such a long period of time.

Blaine therefore takes a 10 minute or so break every hour, during which time he quenches his thirst and relieves himself. His vital signs are checked by a doctor then too.

After which he is hoisted up once more for passers-by to watch – should they care to see a 35-year-old man hanging upside-down just for the sake of it.

Blaine had originally said he would assume his bat-like stance and maintain it until Wednesday night, when the 60 hours will have elapsed. He planned to use a catheter to urinate and a straw to drink water. In order to restore blood flow, Blaine intended to do upside down sit-ups and to move his legs.

It all fell through though as he discovered that his chosen endurance test is a painful one. His spokeswoman Pat Smith has said that he discovered he was not able to drink upside down or to urinate and so hourly breaks became necessary.

The unnecessary feat ends Wednesday night, with an ABC two-hour special which starts at 9 p.m.

Previous stunts performed by Blaine include spending seven days underwater, living for forty-four days without food in a glass box and spending three days encased in a block of ice.