A woman’s terrifying ride down a natural waterslide in Southern California ended with her smashing into jagged rocks as horrified witnesses watched.
The stomach-churning moment was captured on video at the popular Santa Paula Punch Bowls in Ventura County.
Footage circulating on social media shows the woman speeding down a slick granite chute before suddenly losing control beneath a rocky overhang.
She appears to strike the canyon wall multiple times before tumbling into the pool below. Stunned visitors can be seen watching from the surrounding rocks as the frightening scene unfolds.
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The woman’s condition was not immediately known.
Located deep inside Santa Paula Canyon in Los Padres National Forest, the Punch Bowls have become a viral destination for swimmers, hikers and thrill-seekers.
Social media is packed with videos showing visitors cliff-jumping, swimming in the emerald-colored pools and racing down the naturally carved rock slide.
However, the picturesque destination has also developed a frightening reputation as one of Ventura County’s most dangerous outdoor attractions.
Authorities have repeatedly warned that the smooth granite becomes extremely slippery when wet. Swift-moving water, submerged rocks, steep cliffs and rugged terrain can turn a seemingly harmless adventure into a life-threatening emergency.
The isolated location also makes rescues especially challenging. Injured hikers and swimmers frequently need to be airlifted from the narrow canyon by helicopter.
The latest frightening video surfaced just weeks after a hiker died following a fall near the Punch Bowls. The tragedy added to the area’s long history of fatal and serious accidents.
Officials have urged visitors to avoid unnecessary risks at the swimming hole. They warn that cliff jumping and sliding down the natural granite chute can become dangerous in seconds.
Despite those warnings, dramatic videos continue to spread across social media, attracting thousands of people to the secluded canyon each year.