Suffocation and Holding Your Breath?

Question

Holding Your Breath?

On the Oprah show David Blaine is attempting to hold his breath for over 16 minutes to break the world record live. Tune in it will be taking place within the hour. How is this possible? Don't you begin to black out after a few minutes? You lose consciousness well before 16 minutes. Someone in my area recently died from an accidental hanging. He suffered for 16 minutes? If I were to drown to death I would have to suffer for a prolonged period of time. I thought things would end within 3 minutes. All answers are GREATLY appreciated.

Answer 1

Already a story about the record on Yahoo. Taped this morning.

Answer 2

I thought it was brain damage after 3 minutes

Answer 3

It can be possible. Theirs this technique my friend uses where you breath out and the bubbles go into your nose. So far she's only gotten about 5 minutes. She's still working at it!