Incident Overview
An Australian woman has died after becoming trapped in a ski lift at a resort in central Japan, officials have reported.
The 22-year-old woman was using a chairlift at Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Otari, Nagano prefecture, when part of her backpack became caught in the lift mechanism, leaving her suspended in midair.
Subsequently, the woman suffered a heart attack and was transported to hospital, where she was pronounced dead, according to officials.
Resort Response and Investigation
The Tsugaike Mountain Resort and Tsugaike Gondola Lift Co issued a joint apology and announced that an investigation had been launched into the incident, which occurred around 09:00 local time (00:00 GMT) on Friday.
The resort's chief executive, Tsuneo Kubo, expressed his condolences and outlined plans to enhance safety measures.
"We send our deepest condolences to the bereaved family," Kubo stated. "Safety measures will be strengthened."
In a detailed statement, Kubo explained that an unfastened buckle on the woman's backpack became hooked to the chair while the bag's chest strap remained fastened, causing her to be dragged along after attempting to disembark.
The lift was stopped by an attendant who pressed the emergency button. First aid was administered on site, and the woman was transported to hospital by ambulance, Kubo added.
Details of the Accident
The accident occurred at the top of the two-person Tsuga No.2 Pair Lift. Police informed local media that the woman had been riding the lift with another person at the time.
The lift operator is cooperating with police and other authorities as the cause of the accident is investigated and safety procedures are reviewed.
"We will take concrete measures to prevent recurrence," Kubo said. "We take this situation very seriously and will strive to operate the ski resort in a safe manner so that our customers can use it with peace of mind."
Police are currently questioning resort staff and inspecting the lift equipment as part of their inquiry, according to local media reports.
Consular Assistance and Location
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that one of its citizens had died in Japan and stated it is providing consular assistance to the family.
"We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time. Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment," a spokesperson said.
Tsugaike Mountain Resort, located in Hakuba Valley, is one of Nagano's largest ski areas and is popular with both domestic and international visitors.
