'Live in the moment': Australian snowboarder killed in chairlift accident

Monday, 2 February 2026 10:47

It's believed the 22-year-old Sunshine Coast woman went into cardiac arrest after becoming stuck in a chairlift.

An Australian woman has died in an accident at a ski resort in Japan.

Brooke Day, 22, died on Friday at a popular resort in the Hakuba Valley, a popular skiing and snowboarding region about 30 kilometres from Nagano.

It's believed the Sunshine Coast woman went into cardiac arrest after becoming stuck in a chairlift and suspended in the air about 9am (11am AEDT) on Friday.

The operators of Tsugaike Mountain Resort, Tsugaike Gondola Lift Co, confirmed the death of a customer on its web page.

The resort said the 22-year-old was left hanging in midair after trying to get off a chair lift when the waist buckle on her backpack caught onto the chair.

In a statement, chief executive and president Tsuneo Kubo said Day was dragged along with her backpack because its chest strap did not release.

He said she was taken to hospital after an attendant pressed the stop button and first aid was administered.

The Tsuga No. 2 Pair Lift remained closed today as the company continued to investigate.

She was identified in Japanese media as Ella Day Brooke but sources close to her family confirmed her name to The Sydney Morning Herald.

In a profile by her employer, Hakuba Physio, the receptionist described herself as a "people person" whose personal motto was to "live in the moment".

She said she was happiest riding powder snow or at the beach with her dog.

Current conditions at Tsugaike Mountain resort.

Kubo on Friday said the woman suffered what appeared to be a heart attack before being taken to hospital, where she later died.

"We would like to express our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and pray for the repose of their souls," company chief executive and president Kubo said in a statement.

"We will continue to fully cooperate with the police and related agencies in their investigations."

Nagano Omachi Police also said she suffered a cardiac arrest.

Kubo said staff would also look into strengthening the resort's safety management in an effort to prevent a recurrence.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson confirmed it was providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian who died in Japan.

"We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time. Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment," they said.

- Reported with CNN

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