Australian Woman Dies in Japan Chairlift Accident

A 22-year-old Australian woman died in a chairlift accident at Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Japan's Nagano Prefecture on Friday, marking a tragic incident at one of the country's popular ski destinations.

The woman, identified as Brooke Day from Australia's Sunshine Coast, was snowboarding with friends when her backpack became entangled in the Tsuga No. 2 pair lift around 9:15 a.m. local time. According to statements from the resort's operator, Tsugaike Gondola Lift Co., the buckle on the unfastened waist belt of her backpack caught on the lift chair as she attempted to disembark near the summit. The chest strap, however, remained secured, preventing the backpack from detaching and causing her to be dragged along with the moving lift before being suspended in midair.

A staff member immediately activated the emergency stop button to halt operations, and first aid was administered on site. Day was then transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where she was in cardiac arrest upon arrival and later succumbed to her injuries, police and resort officials said. Another passenger on the lift was unharmed.

Day had been working the ski season in the nearby Hakuba Valley, serving as a...