The surge of horrific jet-ski injuries damaging women’s reproductive systems

Horrific injuries to the reproductive systems of young women thrown from the back of jet-skis are increasing, with some losing the option of vaginal birth.

Tears caused by the high-powered water jet produced by jet-ski engines, or by hitting the rear platform or from the impact of hitting the water at speed have been increasing, two senior surgeons have warned.

Surgeons are seeing more injuries to women’s reproductive systems due to powerful water jets rupturing their perineum when they fall off jet-skis.Credit: Justin McManus

Women’s perineums – the structure between the anus and the vagina – are being ruptured, tearing their anus and bowel and damaging their reproductive systems or urinary tracts.

The regular swimwear that most people use provides little to no protection from the water blast of an accelerating jet-ski.

Stewart Skinner, head of colorectal surgery at Peninsula Health, said patients were sustaining deep tears that required surgical repair and often months of recovery with colostomy bags.

“[These injuries] are suddenly becoming more common. We used to see them occasionally with water-skiing years ago, then waterskiing became less popular and now jet-skis are everywhere, we are seeing these perineal injuries,” he said.

“They get flipped off the back of the jet-ski with their legs apart and come crashing down onto the back of the jet-ski, or the water jet hits them in the perineum and basically splits them apart.”

Skinner said the sphincter muscles around the anus – which provide bowel control – could be torn and the rectum split.

“This could also give you vaginal and bladder injuries, though presumably urologists and gynaecologists are having to [repair] those,” he said.

Because of the risk of permanent incontinence, women who have experienced such injuries and plan to have children are advised to have their babies by caesarean section.

“You would never be able to have a vaginal birth after a third- or fourth-degree sphincter tear,” he said.

Skinner co-authored the paper Severe anorectal injury secondary to jet ski accident, an important and increasing mechanism of injury, published in the journal Trauma Case Reports.

He said male passengers also sustained anorectal injuries in such instances, but wearing protective wetsuits on the bottom half of the body could help prevent them.

Melbourne woman Allegra, who asked that her surname not be published for privacy reasons, said she wanted others to know of the need to protect themselves.

At age 22, she was badly injured on Port Phillip Bay when she crashed down onto the rear of a jet-ski during a spontaneous ride as a passenger.

“It tore my rectum all the way up to my bowel, I had a colostomy bag from February to October,” the now 25-year-old said.

“I thought I was a niche case, but I’ve since learnt this is pretty common ... I’ve heard horror stories about [damage from] the jet as well.”

Safe Transport Victoria notes that jet-ski makers recommend protective clothing be worn by riders “to prevent internal injuries”.

But a social worker who sees injured patients in two large Victorian trauma hospitals said few injured people were aware of the recommendation to wear wetsuit pants.

Jet-ski maker Kawasaki has been sued in the US by numerous women who have sustained so-called “blow-out” injuries to their vaginal and anal regions from direct contact with water jets after falling off the rear as passengers.

Last year, a 49-year-old Russian woman reportedly died of genital rupture after falling from the back of a jet-ski driven by her husband, which then accelerated at speed.

In Australia, a 21-year-old student from Port Macquarie – who posts on social media under the handle @matilda_sews – received 1.8 million views on TikTok on her video warning others about the dangers of coming off the back of accelerating jet-skis.

She said her bowel and intestines had been perforated when she lost her grip as a passenger.

Associate Professor David Read, colorectal surgeon and director of trauma at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, said his department received the worst cases of such injuries.

They are “almost invariably passengers and almost invariably women, but not always”, he said,

“They quite often need several operations due to the damage to their rectum, anal sphincter muscles and vagina,” Read said.

“We think the mechanism is the jet-ski takes off, the passenger isn’t holding on as well as ideal, falls backwards and when they hit the water they are at the level the [water] jet comes out.”

Surgeons want anyone considering riding on the back of a jet-ski to wear protective wetsuit pants.Credit: Justin McManus

Seawater and bowel contents getting into the abdomen through a ruptured anal cavity “is a recipe for peritonitis” – an infection that can harm fertility. Damage to muscles can increase the chance of fecal incontinence after women have children.

“I don’t know why we’re seeing it currently. This used to be a once-in-a-decade event, but now we’re seeing it so much more regularly,” Read said.

“Maybe it’s because [jet-skis] are more popular, maybe it’s because they’re more powerful,” he said. “Everyone knows if you’re going waterskiing or wakeboarding you wear wetsuit pants, but that hasn’t translated to jet-skis.”

Read said that perhaps more people were accepting rides on jet-skis spontaneously – and were unprepared because they weren’t wearing wetsuits.

He said he had not seen such injuries to anyone wearing wetsuit pants as a jet-ski passenger.

“This is an injury far best prevented than treated with life-long consequences,” he said.

The Victorian Jet Ski/Personal Water Craft Association on Friday afternoon issued a safety bulletin regarding passengers and protective gear.

“Over the years, there have been numerous incidents where passengers in shorts, loose clothing or bikinis have suffered internal injuries that led to lasting health issues,” it said.

“It’s highly advisable for passengers on your PWC to wear suitable clothing. This is crucial because there’s a risk of water ingestion from the jet pump if a passenger falls off.”

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.