An eight-year-old Australian girl has died in a snowmobile accident while on a family holiday in Japan's Hakuba Valley. Chloe Jeffries, from the Gold Coast in Queensland, was riding a snowmobile on Saturday when it rolled, trapping her beneath the vehicle.
The tour operator, Hakuba Lion Adventure, said the accident occurred during a guided tour involving nine snowmobiles. Near an uphill curve on a forest road, the snowmobile rode up onto an embankment and overturned, leaving the passenger trapped underneath. Despite first aid at the scene and helicopter transport to hospital, Chloe could not be revived.
The company has suspended all snowmobile and snowshoe tours pending a review of safety procedures. It expressed deep apologies and is cooperating with police investigations. Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is providing consular assistance to the family.
Chloe's local netball association paid tribute, describing her as a bright and joyful presence who was her older sister's biggest supporter. Her death marks the fourth Australian fatality in Japan's snowfields this year, following incidents involving skiers and snowboarders in Niseko and Hakuba.
