An Australian Snowboarder Has Died During A Trip To Japan

An Australian snowboarder has died during a trip to Japan after her backpack became caught on a ski lift, leaving her suspended in mid-air, Japanese police and the lift operator confirmed on Monday.
The 22-year-old woman, identified as Brooke Day, was riding with friends at the Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Hakuba Valley, Nagano Prefecture a popular winter destination when the fatal incident occurred on Friday morning at around 9 a.m. local time.
According to statements from Nagano Omachi Police and Tsugaike Gondola Lift Co., the accident unfolded as Day was preparing to disembark a chairlift: A loose waist-belt buckle on her backpack became entangled in the lift chair. Her chest strap was still fastened, preventing the backpack from detaching from her body. As a result, she was dragged by the moving lift and became suspended in the air while still attached to the backpack. A staff member pressed the emergency stop button, bringing the lift to a halt before emergency responders arrived. The snowboarder was rushed to a local hospital by ambulance, where she later died from her injuries after suffering what authorities described as cardiac arrest. In its official statement, the Tsugaike Gondola Lift Company expressed its deepest condolences to the bereaved family and confirmed cooperation with investigators as the incident is reviewed. The operator said it would seek to strengthen safety measures and protocols to prevent similar accidents in future, while the chairlift involved remains suspended from operation pending investigative and safety reviews. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed that it is providing consular assistance to the family of the deceased. A spokesperson offered the government’s “deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time,” while acknowledging privacy obligations limited further comment. Skiing and snowboarding are major tourist draws in Japan, particularly in Nagano Prefecture’s Hakuba Valley, known for its powder snow and international visitors. Chairlift entanglements are rare, but the incident has raised fresh scrutiny of equipment and passenger safety procedures at alpine resorts.