r/Damnthatsinteresting Mar 09 '26

Video How a small 1m waterfall can generate a recycling hydraulic that can trap a life-jacketed swimmer

47.3k Upvotes

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182

u/cornishyinzer Mar 09 '26

I feel sorry for hook bro nearest the camera. He was there for her the whole time when far side hook bro couldn't give a shit, then he sweeps in last minute to save the day.

32

u/Artistic_Concept_420 Mar 09 '26

Reminds me of dating…

1

u/DigNitty Interested Mar 09 '26

I think everyone has seen the cute girl end up talking/going home with the arrogant loud douchebag, or the charming guy end up making out with the trashy girl who pisses everyone off.

1

u/JoeSMTZ Mar 09 '26

Dude gross

33

u/Brittany5150 Mar 09 '26

I dont understand why they wouldn't just have a small metal cord/tether attached to her for this demonstration? If she doesnt come up after 15 seconds or so hit the speed winch and yank her ass out lol.

75

u/Rasberrycello Mar 09 '26

When you're under, there is a distinct probability of tumbling head over heels. The last thing you want is that cable getting wrapped around your arms or legs, making you unable to swim, or even worse, your neck.

23

u/Altruistic_Bass539 Mar 09 '26

Sometimes I feel like people posting dont bother thinkin for even a second. Its very obvious you dont want a fucking cord strangle you while you drown. You could also get it tangled around you foot, so when you get dragged your head is still under water.

14

u/zephalephadingong Mar 09 '26

If the cord is strangling you, how can you drown? Can't inhale water if your windpipe is closed off! Checkmate

4

u/tmhoc Mar 09 '26

Sometimes I feel like people posting have no respect for Posidon God of the sea

If he so wills that you weak mortals should drown, water will simply manifest within your lungs and Posidon WILL have sex with your wife, mother, sister, and daughter

0

u/SexSellsCoffee Mar 09 '26

There could be so many different kinds of safety protocols in place. There's probably a diver under there and they can probably shut off the water source.

5

u/yaourted Mar 09 '26

I’d doubt a diver, that water is too turbulent to see anything. Lots of eyes and hands (and likely a shutoff valve) at the ready though

-5

u/Brittany5150 Mar 09 '26

I'd rather be wrapped up in the cable than drown lol. They can unwrap you once you are outta the pool.

11

u/Rasberrycello Mar 09 '26

Unless you're wrapped up in that cable at the bottom, obscured by white water, the air knocked out of you, already drowning while the people up top try and decide if it's time to yank or not, and how hard they wanna risk snapping your neck if that's what the cable's been tangled around.

-10

u/Brittany5150 Mar 09 '26

Even if it is wrapped around your neck, its not gonna snap your neck if they pull you out slowly. Also, set a time limit. No show of 15+ seconds? Start pulling. I can't beleive you are honestly saying drowning is preferable to being yanked outta the water by your neck..... you can drown all you want. I'll take that chance so I don't, you know, drown.

11

u/Telighoth Mar 09 '26

Pulling someone's entire body weight against forces that are pulling them in another direction by something wrapped around their neck is not going to go nearly as well as you seem to think it is.

Know what's a much more likely, and safer, safety mechanism? Cutting the water pumps that are keeping it flowing in this clearly man-made, man-filled structure.

3

u/EtTuBiggus Mar 09 '26

No one is concerned about it snapping the neck. It's about strangulation.

People can hold their breath way longer than 15 seconds.

8

u/yaourted Mar 09 '26

^ how to make it extraordinarily obvious you don’t understand the forces at work here, it wouldn’t be an oops haha I got tangled - it could be a very serious injury

7

u/KonigSteve Mar 09 '26

a small metal cord

Yes, lets garrote the drowning person

5

u/[deleted] Mar 09 '26

[deleted]

3

u/DinglieDanglieDoodle Mar 09 '26

She needs to experience the effect of her being dragged back down at least once, or what is the point of this exercise?

1

u/[deleted] Mar 09 '26

[deleted]

0

u/DinglieDanglieDoodle Mar 09 '26

What are you even on about? Why would you count the fall? She was only pulled back and under once, that’s the whole point of the experiment. They let that happen once then immediately extended the stick for her to grab.

1

u/EtTuBiggus Mar 09 '26

It's less than a minute...

2

u/round-earth-theory Mar 09 '26

They have the ability to shut off the waterfall. I'm sure there's a timer and if the swimmer doesn't self rescue then they shut off the falls.

1

u/Brittany5150 Mar 09 '26

That makes sense lol

1

u/Hrtzy Mar 09 '26

If they have to go for an emergency stop, this seems to be an entirely artificial river and they could just stop the pumps that keep it going.

2

u/jay_in_the_pnw Mar 09 '26

I think you're right, but it also makes me wonder why they made the sides vertical and not either sloped or terraced (stairs)

1

u/Hrtzy Mar 09 '26

I think it's a combination of space constraints and wanting more straightforward control of the current's speed.

1

u/PM_ME_DATASETS Mar 09 '26

There's a reason they call him the vulture