Waterpark issued response after world champion diver ignored ‘no women’ sign on extreme slide to see what would happen
The Austrian park hit back at accusations of sexism
An Austrian water park has issued a statement after a ‘no women’ sign on one of its slides sparked accusations of sexism.
Area 47's sign went viral after a champion cliff diver Rhiannan Iffland challenged it and documented the results on social media.
The eight-time world champion was curious to find out what women were missing out on and decided to ride the slide, which boasts speeds of up to a whopping 50 mph.
Moments after going down the 'male-only' attraction, the 33-year-old realised the sign had been put up for a good reason.
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In text overlaying the video, Iffland wrote: "Apparently women are not supposed to do this slide."
"Here for a good time not a long time!” she penned in the caption of her Instagram post, adding: "Another YOLO moment.”
In the clip, viewers can hear Iffland letting out a scream after entering the slide.
She later 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."
Since the clip started doing the rounds on social media, a spokesperson for Area 47 responded to claims of 'misogyny'.
They told Tyla: "AREA 47 was built in 2009/2010. At that time, we did not intend to create a 'men only' attraction within the water park. 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. We consulted with doctors, authorities, and the manufacturer of the slide.
"This led to a difficult decision: either disassemble the water slide or restrict its use to men only, as it stands now."
The spokesperson 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.
"I want to emphasise that AREA 47 is not misogynistic. Approximately 50 percent of our team members are female, and 60 percent of our management team is female."
According to the National Library of Medicine in the US, women can sustain horrific injuries if high-pressure water enters their body, while there is also a risk of infections due to the foreign bodies found in the water.
Stefania Sarrubba