A woman went viral after jumping into sewage-filled sea foam, facing backlash for her reckless stunt dubbed a “bacteria smoothie.”
A young woman has sparked a lot of attention online after she jumped into sea foam that was filled with sewage.
This risky act took place during ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in Australia.
The video of her stunt went viral, gathering nearly four million views on social media.
Woman jumps into sewage-filled sea foam during tropical cyclone for TikTok video
Izabella Bower, the woman in the video, posted her dive online. In the clip, she is seen wearing a waterproof tracksuit.
She stands at the edge of a beach, with thick brown sea foam behind her. Without hesitation, she dives headfirst into the foam. She is completely submerged for about eight seconds.
When she comes up, she is covered in the sticky substance but appears happy and smiling.
Bower did not expect her video to gain so much attention. She thought it was funny and only wanted to share it with her friends.
However, the response was overwhelming, and many viewers criticized her actions.
@bella.bower Actually couldn’t breathe #cyclone #cyclonealfred #fyp #foryou
Experts have warned about the dangers of jumping into sea foam.
According to microbiologist Associate Professor İpek Kurtböke, sea foam can contain harmful bacteria.
She described it as a “bacteria smoothie.” This foam can have more dangerous germs than untreated sewage.
Kurtböke said people should avoid sea foam altogether. It can cause serious health issues, especially for those with weakened immune systems, like children with leukemia.
She explained that even breathing in the foam can be risky. The foam is created by the agitation of seawater and can gather pollutants, including bacteria.
“If they are playing in the sea foam, they may as well dive into a bacterial smoothie. It’s not just through an open wound that one can be infected but breathing the aerosols is just as risky, so to stay safe, do not swim, play or breathe near it.”
“These foams were proven to contain antibiotic resistant strains of Nocardiae as well, which is a group of bacteria known to cause infections in skin, lungs, brain and the central nervous system in humans and animals (e.g. fish),” she explained.
Public Reaction and Warnings
Many viewers quickly reacted to Bower’s video. They informed her about the health risks associated with sea foam.
One user said: seafoam is made from decomposed(dead) sea creatures.
The second user added: Nah that foam is SO TOXIC
The third user commented: It is illegal n dangerous ppl die frm this
The fourth user wrote: People will do anything for likes. Have fun being sick.
Another user said: People and pets have died playing in sea foam, witnessed it myself one unfortunate and sad day.
Someone wrote: This is how 5 surfers died in the Netherlands a few years ago, all very experienced surfers and some lifeguards. They couldn’t get above the 1-1,5 meter high foam.
The impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred
Tropical Cyclone Alfred caused heavy rain and flooding in parts of Australia. South East Queensland and northern New South Wales were particularly affected.
Many areas faced flood warnings, making it dangerous for residents. The storm led to significant disruptions and health risks in the region.
During and after the cyclone, some people chose to play in the floodwaters. Videos circulated online showing groups of young men having fun in flooded streets.
In one video, a woman warned them about the sewer water, but they seemed unconcerned. The message of caution was lost on some, reflecting a lack of understanding of the dangers involved.