A 22-year-old Australian woman, Ella Day Brooke, has died after a tragic ski lift accident at a popular resort in central Japan.
The incident happened on January 30 at Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Otari village, located in Nagano Prefecture. Brooke was visiting the resort when her backpack became caught on a ski lift as she was getting off.
According to the resort, the waist buckle of her backpack was not fastened and got stuck on the lift chair. While the waist strap was loose, the chest strap remained secured, preventing the backpack from coming off. As a result, Brooke was dragged across the snow and left hanging in the air.
Resort officials said a lift attendant noticed the situation and pressed the emergency stop button. Brooke was quickly rescued and taken to hospital by ambulance.
Despite receiving emergency medical care, she suffered cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is providing consular support to Brooke’s family. In a brief statement, the department offered condolences and said no further details could be shared due to privacy reasons.
Following the incident, Tsugaike Mountain Resort and Tsugaike Gondola Lift Company issued a joint apology. They also confirmed that an official investigation has been launched to determine how the accident occurred and whether safety procedures need to be reviewed.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about ski lift safety and the importance of properly securing backpacks and equipment while using chairlifts.
