![](http://img.tedcdn.com/r/images.ted.com/images/ted/9ed8ff36f60c73ba894de8370b2ee4182a3aeece_1920x1080.jpg?ll=1&quality=89&w=800)
In this highly personal talk from TEDMED, magician and stuntman David Blaine describes what it took to hold his breath underwater for 17 minutes - a world record (only two minutes shorter than this entire talk!) - and what his often death-defying work means to him. Warning: do NOT try this at home.
This video was produced by TEDMED. TED's editors featured it among our daily selections on the home page.
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