Perhaps getting in stuck in a water slide?
A couple, larger than most lived that very nightmare approximately 20 years. My family and I were on a fun filled family vacation ~ silver dollar city! At 8 years young I still remember this odd occurrence very vividly. The thrill and excitement of traveling down a completely enclosed waterslide at record breaking speed was still traveling through my brothers and I .... when suddenly a loud thump was heard. The rush of water from the slide became a slight drip. As we stood in the 4 foot deep water pondering over what was going on with the slide~ the sound of a gun shot echoed through the water park. Two individuals, each weighing at least 300+ pounds came shooting out of the waterslide ~ similar fashion to a cannon ball exploding out of a cannon. They must have shot at least 10 feet further than the average slide dump zone. Water rushing behind them- louder and with more force than niagara falls. As they flew through the air- one could have mistaken them for stretch armstrong. Swimming suits disarranged, splits and other cheerleader moves seen in the air, and a look of fear on each of their faces. Only- that quickly turned into tears, blood dripping, limping, life guards entering, jaw dropping from onlookers and whispers of "Holy Sh$t (and trying to control laughter) filled the air. The amount of force and shallow water became quite dangerous as they hit the bottom of the pool. EMS arrived and both left in ambulances. A day gone bad at the water park.
*Add a few 100 pounds and a few decades*
Those individuals certainly will think twice before partaking in a dual tube water sport activity again.
Recently, family friends were over and my mother was telling the story, yes- 20 years later. It just so happens the guest and his brother were trapped, lodged, in a waterslide as well. Both- are on the larger size. The first brother entered the slide and somewhere in the middle he became entrapped. The second brother begins his journey down the slide~ and is shocked to encounter he too is trapped. Even the forceful bump didn't unlogged first sibling. Water is backing up, forcefully trying to squeeze through an open crevice it can. With that- a child arrives tangled into the mix. Apparently, the college student water park employee must have been snoozing ~ as he continued to let enthusiastic riders enter the slide. Another child arrives. 2 adults and 2 children are now lodged in the center of the slide. Water is now becoming painful from the force. Pressure continues to build and suddenly a 3rd child arrives and BAM- they all shot out. This occurrence resulted in no injury. Only nagging children yelling, "that was fun~ can we do that again?"
*Photo Credit: Google Images*
Now- does this happen frequently? Do engineers factor in obese individuals? Are there weight limitations- similar to the limitations I had over height? Hmmmmmm?
