In today’s world, it’s rare for women to be excluded from activities that men can participate in. However, one European waterpark still enforces such a rule.
At Austria’s Area 47 adventure park, certain high-speed waterslides have restrictions advising women not to use them. This is due to health concerns associated with these attractions.
Rhiannan Iffland, an Australian high diver, recently drew attention when she shared a video on social media showing her attempt to defy the ‘male only’ warning and experience the slide for herself.
The video features the four-time World Championship gold medalist on Europe’s ‘fastest waterslide,’ which can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h, as reported by The New York Post.
Although the slide is designated for men, this restriction is not based on sexism, but rather on safety considerations.
A study from 1998, found in the National Library of Medicine, indicates that women are at risk of serious vaginal injuries if high-pressure water enters the body.
Furthermore, such injuries can increase the likelihood of infections due to foreign particles in the water. Past incidents have reported women being severely injured by high-speed waterslides, leading to bans on similar attractions worldwide.
High-speed water can also result in what is known as ‘the waterslide enema’ for both men and women.
An enema involves injecting fluid into the rectum, typically to clean the colon and alleviate constipation.
This phenomenon is not uncommon among waterslide users, as illustrated by a social media post: “Unfortunately I got a water slide enema. Peed out half the swimming pool in the toilet from my butt. I literally couldn’t stand upright after it happened. Weirdest thing I’ve ever experienced.”
Another individual commented: “I have gone to one of those. […] Not an enema but the other one. Deep cleaning that baby box. Never again.”
Iffland’s TikTok video of her experience on the Austrian waterslide has gone viral, though she clarified to news.com.au that it was ‘never [her] intent to mock’ the safety rules of the slide.
“A person’s safety is paramount and I am constantly weighing up any danger with my job,” she stated. “To suggest otherwise, is wrong.”
Since the clip’s release, viewers have actively discussed Iffland’s bold move on social media.
One Instagram commenter wrote: “The amount of people that don’t understand why women aren’t supposed to go on this slide is scary,” while another added: “The sign says ‘due to high risk of injury’. Why would you still go down?”
The waterpark, Area 47, clarified they never intended the slide to be a men-only feature when it opened in 2009.
A spokesperson explained: “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.”
They further stated: “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.”