An Australian snowboarder has died following a chairlift accident at a major ski resort in central Japan, casting a shadow over what has become peak season for Australians travelling north for winter turns.
Japanese media have identified the victim as Ella Day Brooke, 22, who was involved in a serious incident on Friday morning local time at Tsugaike Mountain Resort. Brooke was attempting to disembark from a fixed grip chairlift when her backpack became caught on the lift mechanism, preventing her from clearing the unloading zone.
According to reports, the buckle on Brooke’s backpack tangled as the chair passed through the turnaround area. With the chest strap still fastened, the pack could not be released, and she was dragged as the lift reversed direction. An attendant activated the emergency stop and first aid was administered immediately.
Brooke was transported to hospital after suffering what was reported as cardiac arrest. She was pronounced dead on Sunday.
The incident occurred on the Tsuga No. 2 pair lift, a fixed grip chair travelling at approximately 2.5 metres per second with a capacity of around 1000 passengers per hour.
The lift has been closed since Saturday and will remain shut until safety checks and operational reviews are completed. Local police are investigating, including analysis of security camera footage.
The tragedy follows another fatal lift related incident earlier this season in northern Japan, where a five year old boy died after his arm became trapped in a conveyor style beginner lift at Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort in Hokkaido. That incident also occurred during disembarkation.
Japan has become the winter destination of choice forskiers and snowboarders, particularly through December and January, driven by snow reliability, strong cultural appeal and favourable exchange rates. More than one million Kiwis and Australians visited Japan in 2025, according to the Japanese National Tourism Organisation, representing a 15 percent increase on 2024 figures.
While chairlift accidents remain statistically rare, this incident is a sobering reminder that loading and unloading zones demand full attention. Backpacks, loose straps and unsecured gear are a known risk around lift machinery, particularly on older fixed grip systems common across Japan’s resorts.
As investigations continue, the focus will remain on accountability, operational safety and whether further measures are required to prevent another loss of life in what should be a controlled environment.
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