A Colorado ski resort has agreed to a monumental $38 million (£30 million) settlement after a 12-year-old girl was left paralysed in a devastating ski lift accident.
The life-altering incident occurred at the renowned Winter Park Resort when the young skier's backpack became entangled in the chairlift, causing her to be violently dragged and then dropped a significant distance onto the hard-packed snow below.
A Catastrophic Equipment Failure
The subsequent investigation uncovered a shocking failure. The resort's ski lift was missing a critical safety component—a plastic roller designed to prevent such entanglements from happening. This absence created a lethal trap for the child.
The horrific fall resulted in a severe spinal cord injury, leaving the vibrant young girl with permanent paralysis from the waist down. Her family's world was irrevocably shattered in an instant.
Landmark Settlement and Safety Overhaul
Facing a wrongful death lawsuit, Winter Park Resort has not only agreed to one of the largest settlements in Colorado history for such a case but has also committed to a complete overhaul of its safety protocols.
The court-mandated changes include:
- Immediate installation of the missing safety rollers on all chairlifts.
- Implementation of a stringent new policy prohibiting bags and backpacks on all lifts unless worn on the front.
- Enhanced staff training programmes focused on lift safety and emergency response.
- Clear, multi-lingual signage warning skiers of the dangers of wearing backpacks on lifts.
This case has sent shockwaves through the multi-billion pound global ski industry, prompting calls for a universal review of safety standards to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again.
