A champion diver who ignored the ‘no women’ sign on a waterpark ride has now spoken out about its dangers.
Rhiannan Iffland, 33, is the Australian diving champion and is pretty used to doing extremes manoeuvres in the water.
However, she wasn’t to know that a seemingly offensive sign was put in place for the good of women's health.
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While you might not have seen a sign like this since the controversial Yorkie choclate bar marketing campaign was unveiled ('Yorkie - it's not for girls'), the water ride is doing so for a very good reason.
Iffland came across the sign when she visited Austria’s popular Area 47 adventure park, which is known to contain some ‘extreme’ rides and attractions for visitors who enjoy a bit of an adrenaline rush.
One of those attractions is known as Europe’s ‘fastest waterslide’, which can go up to 50 miles per hour, and completely bans women from riding it.
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Now, I’m no expert, but putting your body through high speeds on a plastic tube filled with water isn’t going to come without a cost.
According to recent reports, some women have walked away with severe injuries after going on high pressured water slides, just as Iffland attempted to.
When the diver approached the ride, she appeared to take little notice of the ban and posted a video of herself riding the slide.
She can be seen pointing to the sign, saying: "Due to high risk of injury, women are not allowed to use this slide!"
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“Apparently women are not supposed to do this slide,” she wrote in text over footage and captioned the clip: “Here for a good time not a long time! Another YOLO moment.”
However, she realised her mistake as soon as she let go of the bars as she looked back at her pal and her expression was one of deep regret.
Viewers got to watch the Australian diver disappear down the male-only ride while screaming - much to the amusement of her friend.
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After her video went viral, Iffland went on to tell news.com.au that she wasn’t mocking regulations and knows that it could have ended badly.
This came after she received backlash over her video, considering many women have been injured due to the rides.
She said: "It was never my intent to mock the safety regulations of this water slide. A person’s safety is paramount and I am constantly weighing up any danger with my job.
"To suggest otherwise, is wrong," she said.
Social media users were also worried about the diver, and wondered whether she had given herself a DIY enema, which is like a normal enema…but in the front.
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One person said: "The amount of people that don’t understand why women aren’t supposed to go on this slide is scary!"
Another asked: "Giney wedgie?"
A third added: "I got the worst enema on that slide hahaha you are brave girl."
A fourth chimed in: "Unfortunately I got a water slide enema. Peed out half the swimming pool in the toilet from my behind. I literally couldn’t stand upright after it happened. Weirdest thing I’ve ever experienced."
Eww. At least she didn’t get hurt.
An Area 47 spokesperson previously said: "Initially, this particular slide was open to both women and men. However, in the second year, we noticed a significant increase in accidents on this slide, which required us to take action."
After consulting with doctors and manufacturers, they had to choose whether to 'disassemble the water slide or restrict its use to men only, as it stands now'.
They added: "Our highest priority is ensuring the safety and happiness of all our guests, regardless of gender.
"The risks for women using this slide were tragically highlighted a few years ago when a woman was severely injured on a similar slide in the Canary Islands."
Topics: News, Australia, Health, Social Media
Britt Jones