Illusionist emerges from water tank, thanks crowd, passes out

NEW YORK -- His skin crinkled and his eyes bloodshot, illusionist Criss Angel emerged Tuesday morning after spending 24 hours in a Times Square water chamber.

The 33-year-old Long Island native thanked family, friends, the gathered crowd -- and his employer, World Wrestling Entertainment -- before passing out and vomiting as he was loaded onto an ambulance, which took him to St. Clare's Hospital in midtown.

Doctors treated him for dehydration and kept him wrapped in blankets to raise his body temperature. Publicist Kelly Bronowich said Angel was weak but improving, and she expected him to be released this morning.

Before he emerged from the phone-booth sized contraption of clear plastic and steel, Angel yanked out the air hose that allowed him to breathe. Then assistants pulled a black curtain over the 220-gallon chamber to block the view of television cameras and about 100 people gathered outside the window in which he was displayed.

Under cover, Angel apparently escaped from the shackles that bound his arms, legs and neck, before pulling himself from the watery chamber with a celebratory scream.

"Honestly, I ran into some problems last night," he said as assistants carried him out to wave to the crowd on the street. "It got too hot -- my jaw was fatigued. I thought I was going to pass out. I look like I'm about 90 years old."

Then he said to the TV cameras, "Come check out my show" -- a plug for his magic gig at The World, the WWE store where the stunt took place -- before passing out.

The New York City tap water in which the illusionist was submerged turned a milky color over the 24 hours from salt and perspiration.

The crowd was unsure whether the ambulance ride was part of the stunt or for real.

"He looks dead -- white as a ghost," said spectator Alerick Campbell. "Like they say, don't try this at home."