The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was delete. The sources cited by the one (diligent) advocate of "keep" haven't convinced anybody else.  Sandstein  16:12, 24 September 2016 (UTC) reply

David Merlini

David Merlini (  | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) – ( View log · Stats)

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Extremely promotional. I just cleaned a whole lot of nonsense from it. Written so promotionaly that it needs to be deleted. Maybe he is notable but not this article. If not delete I suggest move to the Draft space where this can be cleaned. See talk page also for previous discussions Varun FEB2003 14:55, 3 September 2016 (UTC) reply

Note: This debate has been included in the list of People-related deletion discussions. Shawn in Montreal ( talk) 17:31, 3 September 2016 (UTC) reply

Note: This debate has been included in the list of Actors and filmmakers-related deletion discussions. Shawn in Montreal ( talk) 17:31, 3 September 2016 (UTC) reply

Note: This debate has been included in the list of Hungary-related deletion discussions. Shawn in Montreal ( talk) 17:31, 3 September 2016 (UTC) reply

• Delete As failing WP:ENT: the sources, consisting almost entirely of tabloids, zines, ?blogs and fansites, do no indicate any WP:DEPTH or WP:PERSISTENCE in coverage. Equally, he has no significantly-sized fanbase, won no major accolades, and the only contribution he has made- holding his breath- is neither "'unique, prolific or innovative'." _Muffled ^Pocketed 17:36, 3 September 2016 (UTC) reply
• Delete As per nom. Varun FEB2003 18:07, 3 September 2016 (UTC) reply

• Comment This is the nominator - unless stated otherwise, it's assumed that nominator believes article should be deleted so you don't need to comment again Appable ( talk) 00:25, 4 September 2016 (UTC) reply

Answer - @ Appable: I know but I saw this in a number of AFD's thats why I also voted but will take care from now. Varun FEB2003 11:29, 4 September 2016 (UTC) reply

• Struck duplicate !vote from nominator; the nomination is considered as your !vote. North America ¹⁰⁰⁰ 03:51, 11 September 2016 (UTC) reply

• Delete a non-notable escape artist. John Pack Lambert ( talk) 02:27, 4 September 2016 (UTC) reply

• Keep per the significant coverage in multiple independent reliable sources.
  1. Boyd, David Richard (2010). Dodging the Toxic Bullet: How to Protect Yourself from Everyday Environmental Health Hazards. Vancouver: Greystone Books. p. 16. ISBN  1553656210. Retrieved 2016-09-11.

     The book notes:

     In 2008, a remarkable world record for unassited breath-holding was set by Germany's Tom Sietas, who held his breath for ten minutes and twelve seconds. In 2009, a world record for assisted breath-holding was set by David Merlini, who held his breath for more than twenty minutes while submerged in a tank full of water at a Formula 1 auto race in Bahrain. He gained an edge by breathing pure oxygen for half an hour before his stunt, thus super-oxygenating his blood. Unlike Sietas and Merlini, most people will past out after being deprived of oxygen for two or three minutes. After a brief period of unconsciousness, the heart will stop pumping. Within minutes, electrical activity in the brain will come to a halt because neurons are deprived of oxygen. This is the modern definition of biological death.

  2. Balázs, Eszter (2004-12-02). "Escaping his dreams". The Budapest Sun. Archived from the original on 2016-09-11. Retrieved 2016-09-11.

     The article notes:

     Eszter Balázs meets David Merlini, the Hungarian escapologist who made everyone shiver when he was plunged into the Danube... encased in concrete.

     HE IS only 26-years old, but has already seen more danger and been in more perilous situations than most of us encounter in a lifetime. Could there be anything worse that suffocating, being burnt alive or being eaten by piranhas and sharks? For David Merlini, such risks are selfimposed and commonplace. Defeating them is his profession - a typical day in the office. "This is my job, my life," the young escapologist said in answer to a question about what motivates him to encase himself in concrete and ask to be lowered into the Danube. In fact, this very job almost cost him his life. But still there is no better explanation for the whys. Merlini simply dreams up a challenge and then realizes it, moving from one death-defying situation to another.

     ...

     Born to an Italian father and a Hungarian mother, and raised from the age of three in Italy, Merlini was interested in the structure of the locks that he so skillfully dismantled. When he one day was given an illusionist's kit, his future career was founded. Remote-opening locks, electronic constructions and smoke machines were handmade in Merlini's laboratory. Electro-shocks were part of the daily routine, he added.

     Ten years later Merlini enrolled in night classes at the famous illusionist training institution, the Circolo Amici della Magia of Turin. "Lessons took place starting at 9pm as the students all had daytime jobs," Merlini remembers. "One night I was sitting in the library of the CADM reading about the great escapologist Houdini -born in Hungary as Erik Weiss - and I found that I was born exactly 52 years after his death at the age of 52 in 1926."

     ...

     His second fishy adventure involved piranhas:

     aired on the music channel MTV, Merlini was strung up on an iron cross and then lowered, upside down, into an aquarium full of the predatory fish. He was nibbled a bit, but escaped. "I am not afraid during action, it is more before and after," he said. When he was lowered into the Danube this August, the worst moments were those when he was just at the level of the river. "This river floats by at between 6.5 - 7km/h. A cold and mighty flood that just makes you feel very, very small." He spent three and a half minutes at the bottom of the Danube before he was back on the surface again, this time having escaped a concrete cube that he had spent 11 hours in previously while it set. Five million people saw the "production", he proudly informed me.

  3. "Illúzió vagy titkos tudomány?" [Illusion or secret science?]. Hetek (in Hungarian). 2004-09-03. Archived from the original on 2016-09-11. Retrieved 2016-09-11.

     The article notes:

     A tanévkezdés előtti napra világraszóló produkciót hirdetett meg David Merlini huszonhat éves illuzionista. Budapesten, a Magyar Tudományos Akadémia előtt az önmagát „a világ legfiatalabb szabadulóművészének” tituláló olasz-magyar származású Merlinit egy akváriumba engedték, majd rázúdítottak négy tonna betont. A betonba öntött férfit tíz órával később egy daru segítségével a Lánchídról a Dunába eresztették. Merlini jó két perccel később jelzőfénnyel a kezében felbukkant a víz színén. Az élő televíziós közvetítést kétmillióan nézték végig. David Merlini a múlt század leghíresebb, szintén magyar származású illuzionistája, Harry Houdini reinkarnációjának tartja magát. Egy nemzetközi hírű szakember, Rudy Steffish szerint Merlini „a harmadik évezred legnagyobb szabadítója”.

     From Google Translate:

     The day before the school year starts on the day the world David Merlini announced a twenty-six-year-old illusionist. Budapest, in front of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in itself Merlinit Italian-Hungarian descent, "the world's youngest szabadulóművészének" tituláló allowed an aquarium and rázúdítottak four tons of concrete. The man poured concrete ten hours later, a crane lowered the Golden Gate Bridge into the Danube. Merlini good two minutes later, the lights turned up his hand upon the water. The two million people watched live television. David Merlini most of the last century, also Hungarian-born illusionist, Harry Houdini reincarnation hold up. An internationally renowned expert Rudy Steffish according to Merlini "in the third millennium largest Savior."

  4. "Chilly water beats record attempt". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. 2007-10-11. Archived from the original on 2016-09-11. Retrieved 2016-09-11.

     The article notes:

     LOS ANGELES: He had the water tank, the handcuffs and even the hooded wetsuit.

     But Hungarian escape artist David Merlini just didn't have the ability to withstand cold water yesterday when he failed to break the world record for the longest time underwater without air.

     Setting out to beat a time of 8 minutes, 55 seconds, he abandoned his attempt after just 1 minute and 12 seconds due to the chilly water temperature.

     ...

     Merlini's capitulation stunned fans, who recalled his amazing past feats -- one of which included, ironically, being frozen inside a huge block of ice.

     He has also been buried in concrete and has escaped from a rocket's demolition.

     Merlini first mastered the art of escape in Hungary in 1995.

  5. "New Houdini wannabe escapes from burning car". Deseret News. 1998-10-30. Archived from the original on 2016-09-11. Retrieved 2016-09-11.

     The article notes:

     A 20-year-old escape artist who wants to be the next Harry Houdini has performed his greatest death-defying feat ever, emerging unscathed after being handcuffed inside a burning car.

     David Merlini performed the escape Thursday in Budapest. He said he models himself after Houdini, a native Hungarian who migrated to the United States. Houdini thrilled crowds with his improbable escapes until his death in 1926.

     Merlini was handcuffed to the steering wheel of a white Mercedes. The doors were shut, the car covered with jelly gasoline and set on fire as it was hoisted by a giant crane. It was dropped from 66 feet.

  6. "A stunt to take your breath away". mX. 2007-10-11. Archived from the original on 2016-09-11. Retrieved 2016-09-11.
  7. Cary, Tom (2009-04-27). "Motor sport: Intense heat fails to derail Button". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 2016-09-11. Retrieved 2016-09-11.

     The article notes:

     The afternoon had begun in bizarre fashion when F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone, Richard Branson and other VIPs gathered on the home straight to watch a Hungarian escape artist by the name of David Merlini break the world record for holding his breath underwater.

     Submerged in a Perspex tank, Merlini managed 21mins and 29secs before being carried out virtually unconscious, prompting Ecclestone (78) to totter towards him to offer his congratulations. Merlini, no doubt deprived of oxygen, planted a smacker on the diminutive maestro's forehead.

  8. Leporatti, Claudia (2016-06-24). "UNGHERIA: Il mago della fuga David Merlini apre il Museo di Houdini" [HUNGARY: The Wizard of David Merlini escape opens the Houdini Museum]. East Journal (in Hungarian). Archived from the original on 2016-09-11. Retrieved 2016-09-11.

     The article notes:

     In un’altra epoca, un altro prodigio: a 4 anni colleziona lucchetti e manette, a 13 già si esibisce con un numero tutto suo. Record mondiale di apnea con 21 minuti e 29 secondi (2009), lui è David Merlini, di professione escapologo. Siamo a Budapest, lato Buda, nel quartiere del castello, dove poche ore fa Merlini ha aperto il museo “The House of Houdini”. Noi di East Journal lo visitiamo accompagnati dal David in persona e non possiamo fare a meno di raccontarvi anche la sua, di storie, quella dell’uomo che si è fatto imprigionare in un blocco di ghiaccio per uscirne dopo 33 ore, davanti a mezza Budapest riunita per lui nel Piazzale degli Eroi.

     Nato a Budapest nel 1978 da padre toscano, David Merlini ha vissuto a lungo in Italia, a Torino, prima di tornare in Ungheria per debuttare con i suoi spettacoli, che oggi lo portano in tutto il mondo. Nel 2007 è stato premiato come “Best Escape Artist” agli World Magic Awards di Los Angeles, gli Oscar della magia. Due anni fa, durante la produzione americana “Houdini”, girata a Budapest, ha insegnato all’attore Adrien Brody (anche lui ungherese, di origine) a trattenere il respiro e ad evadere dalle manette, lavorando come consulente per la miniserie premio Oscar. Nel 2015 è stato protagonista di uno show in memoria di Houdini per la chiusura di Expo 2015, a Milano.

     From Google Translate:

     In another era, another prodigy: 4 years collects padlocks and handcuffs, to 13 already performs with a number of her own. World record of apnea with 21 minutes and 29 seconds (2009), he is David Merlini, the escapologo profession. We are in Budapest, on the Buda side, in the castle district, where a few hours ago Merlini opened the "The House of Houdini" museum . We at East Journal visit it accompanied by David in person and we can not help but tell her also, the stories, the man who became imprisoned in a block of ice to get out after 33 hours, in front of half-Budapest gathered for him in Heroes' Square.

     Born in Budapest in 1978 by Tuscan father, David Merlini has long lived in Italy, in Turin, before returning to Hungary to debut with its shows, which now carry him around the world. In 2007 he was honored as "Best Escape Artist" at the World Magic Awards in Los Angeles, the Oscars of magic. Two years ago, during the American production "Houdini" , filmed in Budapest, he taught actor Adrien Brody (who was also Hungarian, source) to hold your breath and escape from handcuffs, working as a consultant for the Oscar-winning miniseries. In 2015 was the protagonist of a show in memory of Houdini for the closing of Expo 2015 in Milan.

  9. László, Szabó G. (2015-09-20). "Külföldre viszi mutatványait David Merlini" [David Merlini abroad takes mutatványait]. Új Szó (in Hungarian). Archived from the original on 2016-09-11. Retrieved 2016-09-11.

     The article notes:

     Tíz éve nem látta a magyar közönség, tíz éve nem is nyilatkozott David Merlini, a világszerte ismert és elismert, édesanyja révén magyar szabadulóművész. Hivatását azóta sem adta fel, a világ különböző pontjain mutatja be lélegzetelállító produkcióit.

     From Google Translate:

     Ten years ago, the Hungarian public has not seen for ten years not commented David Merlini, a well-known and recognized by the Hungarian mother szabadulóművész. He has not given up his profession, shown around the world in a breathtaking performances.

  There is sufficient coverage in reliable sources to allow David Merlini to pass Wikipedia:Notability#General notability guideline, which requires "significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject".

  Cunard ( talk) 05:06, 11 September 2016 (UTC) reply

• Delete. I appreciate the diligence in seeking out sources, but I do not think they are more than routine notices or reviews about an unusual performer. I'd wait until he's covered by some standard work on the subject. DGG ( talk ) 15:38, 16 September 2016 (UTC) ,. reply

• @ DGG: Nom suggested draftify might be a good idea. Given that an editor clearly is willing to look for sources on this person, what about moving it to draftspace for now and then seeing whether he's notable after further article improvements and sourcing? Appable ( talk) 17:50, 16 September 2016 (UTC) reply

• The subject already passes Wikipedia:Notability#General notability guideline. Do you disagree that David Merlini has received "significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject"? Why move it to draftspace when he's already notable? Cunard ( talk) 05:46, 17 September 2016 (UTC) reply

• This 1,354-word article from The Budapest Sun and this 624-word article from Hetek are solely about David Merlini and contain detailed biographical coverage about him. They are not "routine notices or reviews about an unusual performer". According to a Greystone Books–published book, David Merlini in 2009 set a "world record for assisted breath-holding". That his world record was covered in a book strongly indicates it is not routine.

  Cunard ( talk) 05:46, 17 September 2016 (UTC) reply

The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.