A 27-year-old Australian man has died while skiing in Japan, just days after the death of Queensland snowboarder Brooke Day. The man, from Melbourne, collapsed and suffered a heart attack while skiing with friends near the Niseko ski resort in Hokkaido on Monday, according to a local ski lodge spokesperson.
The man, who had been working at a hotel in Niseko, was skiing at the back of a group of seven when he collapsed. Four other skiers witnessed the incident and began CPR. He was retrieved by the fire department and pronounced dead at hospital, with local police launching an investigation.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was providing consular assistance to the family. “We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time,” a spokesperson said. The lodge spokesperson described the man as “a talented, kind, gentle and wonderful man.”
The incident occurred three days after 22-year-old Brooke Day died when her backpack became caught in a ski lift at Tsugaike resort in Otari, near Nagano. The lift operator pledged to cooperate with investigations and strengthen safety measures.
Japan has experienced record-breaking snowfall in recent weeks, with 30 deaths and over 100 serious injuries from snow-related incidents since 20 January. Niseko's Annupuri ski resort recorded 290cm of snow near the peak and 200cm at the base. The daily avalanche bulletin warned against skiing off-piste, noting the area outside gates is not a ski resort.
