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BMJ 2004; 329 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/sbmj.0407308 (Published 01 July 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;329:0407308

David Blaine's 44 day fast is said to have been beaten by five days by a Chinese herbalist in the Bifengxia Valley mountain resort in China. Chen Jianmin consumed only water while suspended 14 metres in the air in a glass box and emerged 15 kilos lighter. He relies on the “magic of fasting” documented in ancient Chinese medical literature, which is said to allow people to be buried deep underground for long periods without harm. Blaine had breathing difficulties and severe palpitations in the final days of his fast and was told he would not be back to full health for about six months (http://iafrica.com/news/quirky/321476.htm).

Kitesurfing involves riding a small board over water while gaining propulsion from the wind using a large kite. It's a risky business, and the pattern of injuries sustained by kitesurfers is similar to that for contact sports. The most common injuries among 235 kitesurfers who sustained 124 injuries in six months were to the foot and ankle (28%), skull (14%), chest (13%), and knee (13%). More than half of the injuries were because …

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