A tourist, aged 53, was discovered deceased by ski resort staff upon the gondola’s arrival at a mountain peak.
The individual’s body was located by the gondola operator on January 6 in the afternoon. It is suspected that he experienced a cardiac arrest after boarding the mountain lift at Val Cenis ski resort in Savoie, situated in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.
Efforts to resuscitate the man with a defibrillator were made by two ski patrollers, and emergency services, in addition to local police, promptly responded, but the man was declared deceased at the scene. Concurrently, another tragic incident occurred on the same day at Les Menuires resort in Savoie, where a Spanish skier was found unconscious near a rock in an unmarked skiing area.
Tragically, on December 28, a five-year-old boy lost his life at the Asarigawa Onsen ski resort in Otaru, Japan, after his arm became entangled in a lift. The child tragically succumbed following a fall and entrapment in the ski travelator’s machinery, as reported by Japanese media. Authorities are currently investigating the incident that occurred at the prominent ski resort.
Local media accounts indicate that Hinata Goto was about to exit the travelator when he slipped and his right arm got caught in the mechanism. Despite the safety feature of the travelator, the machine ceased operation only when the boy’s mother activated the emergency stop.
Rescue personnel spent 40 minutes disassembling components of the travelator to free the unconscious boy. Subsequently, he was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
An inquiry is underway to determine if there was any oversight in the installation or upkeep of the travelator. Reports suggest that staff at the Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort confirmed the proper functioning of the safety feature earlier in the day.
The travelator, measuring 30m (98 ft) in length and 60cm (24 in) in width, was installed approximately six years ago. This device, lacking handrails, connects the resort’s parking area to the ski slopes.
Often referred to as “magic carpet” lifts, travelator ski lifts are commonly found on beginner slopes. It has been noted by other visitors that stumbling incidents have occurred on the specific travelator where the tragedy took place, as reported by Japanese media.
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