New investigative findings have shed light on the final moments of Brooke Day, a 22-year-old Australian snowboarder who died following a harrowing chairlift incident at Tsugaike Mountain Resort. Authorities confirmed that Day was dragged for more than 50 feet (17 meters) while suspended in mid-air before the machinery was brought to a halt.
A Fatal Entanglement
The accident, which occurred on Jan. 30, was triggered when an unfastened waist buckle on Day’s backpack became snagged on the chairlift carriage as she attempted to disembark at the top station.
According to the regional bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the mechanical snag became a death trap because Day’s chest strap remained securely buckled. This prevented the backpack from slipping off, effectively tethering her to the moving lift. As the chair began its return descent, Day was pulled off the platform and left dangling 26 feet (8 meters) above the frozen ground.
15 Minutes to Rescue
Evidence provided by the resort operator, Tsugaike Gondola Lift Co., indicates that an attendant in the monitoring room hit the emergency stop button after spotting Day suspended in the air. However, the momentum of the “freak accident” had already carried her nearly 18 yards past the safety of the terminal.
Rescue efforts were complicated by the height and the nature of the entanglement. It reportedly took emergency teams 15 minutes to lower Day to the ground. During the ordeal, the young woman suffered a cardiac arrest. Despite immediate first aid and transport to Omachi General Hospital, she was pronounced dead shortly after.
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“The Safe One”: A Community Mourns
Day, a resident of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, was a seasoned snowboarder on her fourth season in Japan. Her family described her as a “vibrant spirit” and a disciplined athlete who was trained in avalanche rescue. Ironically, the equipment that snagged—an avalanche rescue backpack—was a tool she wore specifically to ensure the safety of herself and her peers.
“To keep herself and her friends safe, Brooke was wearing an Avalanche Rescue backpack,” her family stated. “Tragically, it was the backpack that got caught.”
Local rugby and AFL clubs in Australia have also paid tribute to Day, remembering her as a “talented teammate” and a “pocket rocket” known for her infectious humor and determination.
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Investigation and Safety Review
The Nagano Prefectural Police and the Ministry of Transport are currently conducting a joint investigation into the resort’s safety protocols and response times. The “Tsuga 2 Pair Lift” involved in the incident remains closed indefinitely.
The tragedy has reignited a debate over backpack safety on ski lifts. While many international resorts recommend—or require—that riders remove packs and hold them in their laps, enforcement varies significantly across Japanese prefectures.
The Japanese government has confirmed it is providing consular assistance to the Day family as they prepare to bring her home.
