A simple mistake with a backpack ruined a dream holiday for one Australian traveler.
It can be inspiring to read about other people’s experiences while travelling and redeeming something out of a bad experience. It can also be a harsh reality and remind us just how quickly things can take a turn for the worse when trouble heats up – and often in the most mundane of things i.e. a tourist attraction.
In an unfortunate accident in Japan, a 22-year-old Australian traveled to Japan on holiday only to have her life taken from her by a backpack entangled with a cable car at the Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. A quiet morning of what was suppose to just be a bit of rest and recreation at an establishment renowned globally as a ski resort turned into heartbreak for the family and friends of a life lost.
This young lady lost her life around 9 am (local time) while riding the gondola lift. It has been reported that the backpack had become stuck in the lift mechanism; a loose buckle had become stuck to the chair while the chest strap was still attached to her body.
As she attempted to get off the gondola, she would lose her life due to a backpack that had become entangled and was being pulled along with her while she was left suspended in mid-air waiting for a lift operator to stop the lift, which he was able to do by pushing the emergency stop button.
The lift operator administered first aid at the scene of the accident, and the Australian lady was transported by ambulance to a hospital for her injuries. Regrettably, the injuries sustained by this Australian lady proved fatal.
Per the information provided by resort representatives, the incident took place at or above the level of the top area’s upper portion of the Tsuga No. 2 lift. Reports also show that the woman had at least one travel companion at the time of her accident.
Both lift operators and law enforcement have began to fully examine the circumstances surrounding the accident by working together to review safety policies, examine equipment, and conduct interviews with resort personnel.
In addition, the resort’s management has issued an official statement of condolences to the victim’s family and have agreed to increase all safety protocols to better protect future users of their facility and to prevent a repeat of similar outcomes in the future.
In addition, the Australian government has stated that they will be providing consular support to the victim’s family in a manner consistent with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s privacy policy; the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will confirm the deceased.
In Nagano’s Hakuba Valley, Tsugaike Mountain Resort is one of the largest ski resorts, and it is also very popular among both local residents and visitors from around the world. The resort is well known for its breathtaking scenery and winter recreation activities; therefore, it attracts visitors from all over the world during all seasons.
This tragic situation raises additional questions about how the most mundane things can create serious risks in high-risk situations; for example, unsecured straps and/or improperly stored equipment can become a significant risk in high-risk locations.
Traveling should be fun and liberating, but unfortunate events such as this remind us that safety, attention, and equipment use are just as important as experiencing adventures.
The little things create just as much potential for injury as do large risks.
