Latvian illusionist Genādijs Paļčevskis looks out from his ice encasement during the 66 hour, 32 minute record-breaking stint. Photo by Jeļena Paļčevska.
MOSCOW — A Latvian illusionist claims to have broken a world record Friday morning after spending 64 hours and 32 minutes encased in ice.
Genādijs Paļčevskis, who goes by the moniker “Mr. Fix” for his magician act, apparently left the ice at 8 a.m. and was taken to a hospital to recuperate after the frigid ordeal. Paļčevskis was locked in a 2×2 m cube of ice outside the Expocentre convention center in Moscow. He did not sleep, eat or drink water the entire time while inside the ice, and went to a hospital, where he remains, immediately upon leaving the ice.
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“Last night was the most difficult. Each hour we thought will be last and in five in the morning we began panicking,” Jeļena Paļčevska, the magician’s wife, told Baltic Reports.
Paļčevska spent the entire time near the ice cube, also forgoing sleep. She said her 40-year-old husband’s condition was not good upon leaving the ice, but has since improved.
“About the beginning it was very bad but now it is much better,” she said.
Paļčevskis, who has been a professional illusionist in Latvia for 20 years, decided to try to break the record six months and began training. (SEE VIDEO BELOW)
The spectacle was broadcast live by Latvian radio and covered in the Latvian and Russian media. The entire time in Paļčevskis spent in the ice was videotaped and will be submitted to the Guinness Book of Records and the Russian Records.
Paļčevskis spent 32 minutes longer that the previous record holder, Israeli illusionist Hezi Dayan. Dayan set the record only a month ago, after it was previously held by famous American magician David Blaine who spend 63 hours in Times Square encased in ice in 2000.
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What’s a “world record Friday morning”?
Dear Argaudas,
You don’t always need to use the preposition “on.” It’s still correct English without it. Very often in American journalism it’s dropped to make sentences less wordy.
I’ve noticed other Lithuanians getting confused by that, too, although it’s certainly no comparison to how confused I get changing the endings of Lithuanian words :) Hopefully it’ll come with time.
Anyway thanks for reading Baltic Reports and for your interest our articles.
Ačiū,
Nathan Greenhalgh
Editor
Baltic Reports
Thank you for explaining. In Lithuania we do not usually learn American English. Would it be better if Baltic Reports was written in International English?
Dear Argaudas,
Well, we decided from the start to write in AP Style, which is a writing style in American English. It’s what I’m more familiar with, as well as several of our staff members, so switching would be problematic. Also the differences between American English, International English and British English are not so large compared to regional variations in other languages (Italian comes to mind). Your concern is noted, though.
Anyway again thanks for reading Baltic Reports.
Ačiū,
Nathan Greenhalgh
Editor
Baltic Reports
I kind of agree with Argaudas, but then I’m British :)
Most Americanisms are alright, usually the spelling variations and such, or changing prepositions (e.g. monday through friday instead of “to”)….but dropping prepositions altogether just seems a bit lazy to the British ear.
Anyway keep up the good articles, always an interesting read and that’s the most important thing …
Dear Stīvens,
“just seems a bit lazy to the British ear”
:)
Interesting, I never realized that.
Anyway thanks for the compliments and for reading Baltic Reports.
Regards,
Nathan Greenhalgh
Editor
Baltic Reports