Mechanical failure at the summit
The boy, who was wearing full ski gear and boots, reportedly fell as he approached the exit of the 60-centimetre-wide travelator. His right arm was subsequently pulled into the winding mechanism at the top of the belt.
Despite the walkway being equipped with an emergency stop function designed to halt the motor if a foreign object is detected, resort officials confirmed the system failed to trigger automatically. The boy’s mother was forced to press the manual stop button herself before calling emergency services.
Emergency response and recovery
It took rescue crews and fire department personnel approximately 40 minutes to free the child from the mechanism. He was transported to a local hospital in an unconscious state but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The outdoor escalator, which lacks handrails, is a common feature at the resort, used by skiers to avoid stairs between the parking facilities and the snow. Operators told local media that the safety sensors had been tested and were functioning correctly during a routine inspection earlier that morning.
Safety investigation launched
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AloJapan.com