Australian Woman Dies After Ski Lift Accident at Japan Mountain Resort
A 22-year-old Australian woman has died after a tragic accident involving a ski lift at a popular snow resort in central Japan.
The woman, identified by Japanese police as Brooke Day from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, was visiting the Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Hakuba Valley on Friday morning when part of her backpack became caught in the chairlift as she was getting off. Officials say the entanglement left her suspended and dragged by the lift.
According to the resort operator, the issue began when the waist buckle of her backpack became hooked on the lift while the chest strap was still secured. “Because the chest strap of the backpack was fastened, the backpack did not detach from the guest’s body, and the guest was dragged along with the backpack after disembarking from the lift,” said Tsugaike Gondola Lift Co. CEO Tsuneo Kubo.
Staff quickly responded by stopping the lift. “A staff member immediately pressed the emergency stop button to halt lift operations. Emergency assistance was promptly provided, and the guest was then transported to a hospital by ambulance,” the company said.
Police said the woman went into cardiac arrest following the incident. She was taken to hospital but later died from her injuries.
In a statement, Kubo offered the resort’s “deepest condolences to the bereaved family” and said operations of the lift would remain suspended while investigations continue. “We will take concrete measures to prevent recurrence,” he said, adding that the company would only reopen the lift once safety steps had been fully reviewed and implemented.
Local police are questioning resort staff and inspecting the lift equipment as part of their inquiry. The resort has also said it is fully cooperating with authorities.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed the death of an Australian citizen and said it is supporting the family. “We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time,” a spokesperson said. “Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.”
Tsugaike Mountain Resort is one of Nagano’s largest ski areas and is a major draw for international visitors. Japan is widely regarded as a top winter sports destination in Asia, attracting thousands of overseas skiers and snowboarders each season.
