A young Australian snowboarder has tragically lost her life in a chairlift accident at a Japanese ski resort, just weeks after another skier narrowly avoided disaster in almost identical circumstances on the same lift. The incident has raised serious questions about safety procedures at the popular winter sports destination.
Brooke Day's Fatal Accident
Brooke Day, a 22-year-old from the Sunshine Coast, was spending what should have been a perfect winter day snowboarding in Japan's famed Hakuba Valley. Instead, the adventurous young woman became trapped and suspended from the Tsuga 2 chairlift at Tsugaike Kogen Snow Resort after her backpack became entangled as she attempted to disembark.
In a heartbreaking twist, her family has revealed that Brooke was wearing a special avalanche rescue backpack equipped with airbags designed to keep her safe in snowstorms. Tragically, it was this very piece of safety equipment that contributed to the fatal accident when an unfastened waist buckle became hooked on the chair.
How the Tragedy Unfolded
On the morning of January 30, Brooke travelled by gondola to the top of Mt Tsuga before walking to the Tsuga 2 two-seat chairlift. At approximately 9:15am, as she attempted to disembark, the unfastened waist buckle on her backpack became caught in the lift mechanism.
According to resort chief executive Tsuneo Kubo, while the waist buckle was unfastened, the backpack's separate chest strap remained securely fastened. This prevented the backpack from sliding off her shoulders as might normally occur, causing her to be dragged as the lift continued moving around the bullwheel to descend the mountain.
"The buckle at the end of the waist belt attached to the backpack that the customer was wearing was not fastened and got caught in the lift carrier," Mr Kubo explained. "However, because the chest belt was still fastened, the backpack could not be removed from the body, and the customer was dragged along with the backpack after disembarking from the lift."
Emergency Response and Aftermath
While an operator did press the emergency stop button, speculation remains about the timeliness of the response. Some witnesses claim the emergency stop was not activated quickly enough, leaving Brooke suspended for several minutes before rescuers could free her.
"Someone there says it took them 30 minutes before the lift started moving again and the other passengers could get off their chairs," one observer reported.
Police confirmed that Brooke was already in cardiac arrest when she was finally brought down from the chairlift. Suspended from the lift, she may have had the backpack strap constricting her neck or compressing her chest, restricting her breathing. Despite swift first aid and transportation to hospital, she could not be saved and died on Sunday with her family by her side.
Previous Near-Miss Incident
Disturbingly, this tragic accident occurred just 12 days after another skier was almost dragged around the same Tsuga 2 chairlift. In that earlier incident, an operator managed to stop the lift in time to prevent disaster.
"Girl got pulled around the corner and the liftie stopped it just in time before she was suspended," one person familiar with the earlier incident reported. "Managed to get untangled and walk back to the dismount area."
Another witness claimed to have seen "this exact thing happen on this exact lift on January 18," while a different skier reported a similar incident occurring at the neighbouring Hakuba Norikura resort just last Saturday, where quick staff action prevented tragedy.
Safety Procedures Questioned
The consecutive incidents have raised serious concerns about safety measures at the resort. Former workers and recent visitors have questioned procedures, with one former gondola operator describing safety measures as "mediocre at best."
Regular skiers note that backpacks can pose significant hazards when leaving chairlifts, with some resorts advising riders to remove them or carry them on their laps. At ski resorts worldwide, some chairlifts feature "trip-wire" mechanisms that automatically stop the lift if a person's weight remains on a chair, preventing anyone from being dragged around the bullwheel.
Questions are now being raised about whether Tsugaike Kogen Snow Resort had similar safety features in place. Resort operator Nippon Ski Resort Development Co is examining security footage as part of ongoing investigations into the tragic incident.
A Life Cut Short
Brooke Day was remembered as a talented sportswoman who had embraced the opportunity to live and work overseas. The youngest child of AFL sports administrator Warren "Speedy" Day and specialist health centre CEO Deanne Day, Brooke was described by family friends as "a lovely sweet girl who was living her best life and loved Japan."
An advanced snowboarder who had loved the sport since age 11, Brooke was on her fourth extended snow season in Japan, working as a receptionist at Hakuba Physio, a snow sports injury clinic. In a poignant detail, her family revealed she had recently completed a three-day avalanche course and used her newfound knowledge to help rescue four people from life-threatening situations in recent weeks.
Tributes poured in from sports clubs where she played both AFL and rugby. The Nambour Toads Rugby Union Club wrote: "We are heartbroken by the loss of Brooke Day, an iconic member of our Senior Women's squad over the past two seasons. On the field, Brooke played with courage, determination, and she continued to grow and improve with every game that she played."
The club added: "Off the field, her smile, kindness, and fun-loving spirit lit up our club, and she was never one to shy away from our off-field festivities. Taken far too soon, she was not only a talented young rugby player but a cherished teammate, friend, and daughter."
Brooke leaves behind her parents, brother, sister, extended family and a wide circle of friends in both Australia and Japan who say she was "living her best life" before tragedy struck on the slopes she loved.
