Australian woman dies after freak accident at ski resort in Japan

An Australian snowboarder has died after her backpack became caught in a chair lift at a ski resort in Japan.

Brooke Day, 22, died last Friday after the accident on a chair lift at the Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Otari, Nagano Prefecture.

Japanese media had previously incorrectly named her as Ella Day Brooke.

Ms Day’s backpack is believed to have become entangled with a lift buckle as she attempted to leave the lift.

With her backpack snagged on the machinery, Ms Day was dragged along the snow and then suspended in mid-air as the lift kept moving.

Staff managed to halt the lift, and Ms Day, who reportedly had suffered cardiac arrest, was taken to hospital by ambulance.

However, she was declared dead shortly afterwards.

Ms Day was working in Japan as a receptionist at a physio clinic in Hakuba, which is within the resort.

She described herself as a people person who loved “getting to know the patients and making them feel welcome and seen”.

She also described her personal motto as living “in the moment” and her most-outstanding achievement as playing representative sport for her country.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed Ms Day’s death.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian who died in Japan,” a spokesperson said.

“We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time.

“Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.”