The tallest woman in the world has revealed that she can only fly while laying down on a stretcher.
25-year-old Rumeysa Gelgi from Turkey is currently the title holder of the Guinness World Record for the world’s tallest woman, thanks to her impressive 7ft height.
Gelgi was born with weaver syndrome, a rare genetic condition that causes bone overgrowth. According to Cleveland Clinic, people with this condition are very tall and may have distinct facial features.
They may also have physical and intellectual disabilities. Even though there is no cure for weaver syndrome, people living with it can live healthy lives.
Gelgi has some health conditions, including scoliosis – a sideways curvature of the spine. Because of the medical implications, she cannot sit for more than two hours at a time. This meant she had to lie down on a stretcher when she got on her first flight from Turkey to California.
“Lying down was the only possible option for me and also the safest option,” the record holder explained.
“This was not an easy process. I mean, this is not what they do often. The option is only provided by a few airline companies in the world, and thankfully one of them was Turkish Airlines,” Gelgi continued.
She also explained that passengers were only allowed to use equipment if they were in ‘acute medical distress.’
“I was probably the first person who used this option for tourism reasons,” she added.
The 25-year-old has been battling with many physical issues but after undergoing a surgery, she went from being able to sit for only 20 minutes to two hours.
“Now I am able to sit up for two hours at once, but it’s not longer than that,” she said.
Gelgi also said that she would love to visit other states but didn’t know if she would ever have the chance.
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