An unexpected accident occurred at a famous ski resort in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, when a 22-year-old Australian female tourist died after her backpack strap got caught on a ski lift chair while disembarking. This caused her body to hang suspended mid-air until she lost consciousness. The resort immediately halted the lift operation to investigate safety.
Nagano Prefectural Police reported today (2 Feb) that Ms. Brooke Day, 22, an Australian tourist, died at a hospital following a tragic accident last Friday at Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Otari Village, a popular tourist destination in Hakuba Valley.
The incident occurred on Friday morning (30 Jan) as the victim was preparing to get off the ski lift. The locking clip of her backpack strap came undone and became tightly caught on the ski lift chair. Additionally, she had fastened the chest strap of the backpack, preventing her from freeing herself immediately. As a result, her body was dragged by the lift and left hanging suspended mid-air.
Mr. Tsuneo Kubo, president of Tsugaike Gondola Lift, the company managing the ski lift, stated that the lift operator immediately pressed the emergency stop button upon seeing the incident and rushed to assist, bringing her down and then urgently transporting her to the hospital by ambulance. At that time, she was believed to be in cardiac arrest.
Despite the medical team's full efforts to save her life, police confirmed that she later died at the hospital.
Following the incident, the resort immediately suspended the use of the ski lift involved and confirmed it will only reopen after the investigation is complete and stringent preventive measures are implemented to avoid recurrence.
Mr. Kubo added, "We sincerely accept full responsibility for this incident and will fully cooperate with police and relevant authorities to establish solid safety standards so that tourists can use the facilities with confidence again. We will also do our utmost to support and provide relief to the deceased's family."