Welcome to the water slide version of Yorkie’s ‘not for girls’ campaign – but this time, there’s a valid reason behind it.
The popular Area 47 adventure park in Austria has some ‘extreme’ activities on offer, but apparently, they aren’t all female friendly – however, this warning didn’t phase a world champion diver who was visiting the place.
Forget the bungee jumping, canyoning and white-water rapids in the park that don’t discriminate against gender, as it’s the presence of ‘Europe’s fastest waterslide’ which ladies aren’t allowed on that has really got people taking.
Rhiannan Iffland decided to find out what women were missing out on while visiting the attraction – which boasts speeds of up to 50mph – with a pal, and shared footage of her trying out the terrifying water slide on social media.
Take a look at her go here:
Iffland – who is a seven-times world champion cliff diver and is more than used to daunting heights – can be seen excitedly approaching the entrance to the slide while explaining that ‘women aren’t supposed to use this’.
She points to a sign above which states: “Due to high risk of injury, women are not allowed to use this slide!”
Despite the warning, the 32-year-old didn’t seem too concerned about the risk of hurting herself – until it came time to let go of the bars to send herself flying down a very steep vertical drop.
Iffland looks back at her pal filming her water park antics with an expression which suggests that was the moment she realised she f***ed up, but by that point, it was too late to scurry back up the slippery slide.
Instead, viewers watch the Australian diver disappear down the male-only contraption while she lets out a piercing scream – much to the amusement of her friend watching from above.
Rhiannan Iffland’s daring video at the Area 47 water park went viral (Instagram/@rhiannan_iffland)
Sharing the footage on Instagram, Iffland wrote: “Here for a good time not a long time! Another YOLO moment.”
YOLO indeed.
People obviously went wild online after seeing the clip, while others began to dig into why the Area 47 adventure park don’t allow women to ride the slide – and it turns out it’s for a very good reason.
Rather than being motivated by sexism and park bosses deciding to let lads have an attraction to use all by themselves, it’s actually about the health and safety of female visitors.
In recent years, there have been reports of women having their insides ‘ripped apart’ by high-speed water slides.
Which doesn’t exactly sound fun, does it?
According to the National Library of Medicine in the US, women can sustain horrific injuries if high pressured water enters their body, while there is also a risk of infections due to the foreign bodies found in the water.
The world champion diver went down the slide despite warnings that it’s not suitable for women (Instagram/@rhiannan_iffland)
You can only assume that a world champion diver who is never too far from a pool of water would know this…and you’d be absolutely right.
After her video went viral, Iffland told news.com.au: “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 concerned the Aussie had given herself a DIY enema – Google it – by trying out the slide.
One 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.”
While 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.”
LADbible have contacted Area 47 adventure park for comment.