A five-year-old boy has died in a tragic accident at a popular Japanese ski resort after his arm became trapped in a moving walkway known as a 'magic carpet' travelator.
Tragedy on the Beginner Slope
The incident occurred on the morning of Sunday, December 28, at the Asarigawa Onsen Ski resort in Otaru, on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido. The boy, identified by local media as Hinata Goto, was using the travelator to access the slopes.
Reports indicate Hinata was about to step off the 30-metre long conveyor when he fell. His right arm was caught in the machinery of the travelator, which measures 60 centimetres wide and was installed approximately six years ago.
Failed Safety Mechanism and Rescue Attempt
Despite the device being equipped with a safety mechanism, it failed to activate automatically. The travelator only came to a halt after the boy's mother hit the emergency stop button.
Rescue workers spent 40 minutes carefully dismantling parts of the machinery to free the unconscious child. He was rushed to hospital but was later pronounced dead.
Local police have launched an investigation to determine whether there was any negligence in the installation or maintenance of the equipment. Resort staff stated the safety mechanism had been working earlier on the day of the tragedy.
History of Concerns and Resort Response
The travelator, which has no handrails, connects the resort's car park to the ski slopes. Japanese media reported that other visitors have previously stumbled while using the same device.
The Asahi Shimbun newspaper quoted a regular customer who said, "Even as an adult, there are times when I think, 'It's a little scary'."
A representative of the Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort has apologised for the incident and stated officials will learn lessons from the tragedy to prevent any future recurrence.
The resort is located in a region that attracts millions of visitors annually, with Hokkaido known as Japan's ski capital, drawing the majority of its tourists during the winter months for ski holidays.
