ET has the latest...

DAVID BLAINE has already been buried alive in a coffin for a week, lived in water for more than seven days and fasted for 44 days while suspended in a box over the Thames river -- so why wouldn't he attempt to hold his breath for more than 16 minutes?

And just to up the ante a little more, the endurance artist will attempt this difficult feat on the April 30th episode of "The OPRAH WINFREY Show" -- live!

The Guinness World Record is currently 16 minutes and 14 seconds.