Double-chair at Tsugaike Mountain. | Image: Tsugaike Mountain Facebook
A 22-year-old Australian snowboarder has died following a chairlift accident on Friday, January 30 at Tsugaike Mountain in Japan.
The incident occurred around 9:15 a.m. on Friday morning when the woman disembarked the Tsuga No. 2 Pair Lift near the summit of the resort in Otari Village in the Nagano Prefecture. According to a statement by the resort’s CEO Tsuneo Kubo, a strap got caught as she reached the top station. She was dragged around the top station by the lift and was left hanging in midair at which point lift attendants hit the emergency stop. Resort staff alerted emergency services but according to the local police, the woman—identified as Ella Day Brooke—was in cardiac arrest. She was transported to hospital but later died.
Trail map of Tsugaike Mountain. | Image: Tsugaike Mountain
In a formal statement released by Tsugaike Gondola Lift Co., President and CEO Tsuneo Kubo outlined the circumstances of the accident following an on-site investigation conducted by Omachi Police Station, including a review of surveillance camera footage. The company said the buckle of the waist belt attached to the backpack Brooke was wearing had not been fastened and became caught on the lift carrier as she attempted to exit. Although the waist belt was unsecured, the backpack’s chest strap remained fastened, preventing the pack from coming off. As a result, she was dragged after disembarking and subsequently suspended as the chairlift continued moving.
An attendant pressed the emergency stop button shortly after the incident, and first aid was administered before emergency responders arrived. Another passenger was on the chairlift at the time but was not injured. “The circumstances surrounding the lift accident, our response, and the future of the lift are currently under investigation,” Kubo said in the statement. He added that the company will continue to cooperate fully with police and related organizations and will implement additional safety measures before resuming operations on the lift.
Double-chair at Tsugaike Mountain. | Image: Tsugaike Mountain Facebook
Tsugaike Mountain Resort, part of the Hakuba Valley ski area, is a popular destination for international skiers and snowboarders, particularly during peak winter months. The resort boasts 18 lifts, including seven pair lifts, which service the 18 kilometers (11 miles) of trails. The Tsuga 2 Pair Lift is a fixed grip chairlift. Operations of the double chair have been suspended indefinitely while investigations and safety reviews are ongoing. Chairlift accidents are rare in Japan, where ski resorts are generally regarded as having strong safety records.
Double-chair at Tsugaike Mountain. | Image: Tsugaike Mountain Facebook
AloJapan.com