A little girl was seen fighting to stay in her ski lift as it rose while her small frame slipped below a protective barrier, before she fell more than 40ft at the Genting Resort Secret Garden in China
China: Child survives after falling from ski lift
Horrified witnesses watched on helpless as a little girl fell more than 40ft from an ascending ski lift, as her small frame seemingly fell under the protective crossbar.
Holidaymakers spotted the unnamed youngster in a bright pink suit hanging from the ascending cable car chair at the Genting Resort Secret Garden in Zhangjiakou, China. Shocking footage shows her attempting to hang on as the lift moves ever upwards.
Then, to gasps and screams from those below, she suddenly fell 40ft (12m) through the air towards the snow-covered pine trees below. Witnesses and slope staff rushed to help the young victim.
Emergency services then transported the victim to the hospital. The person who shot the footage said: “This is not the first time this has happened. Parents and coaches should pay more attention to prevent this accident from happening.
“The child is small and short. It is easy to slide off the crossbar under her feet.”
Local media reported the girl did not sustain any serious injuries from the fall. It appears as though she was cushioned by the tree branches and the soft snow at the Genting Resort Secret Garden.
It is believed she was having skiing lessons at the time of the shocking fall. There appeared to be three other people in the gondola with her at the same time but they did not notice her falling from the machinery.
Ski lifts often have safety bars, footrests or ant-slip sears to prevent adults from falling out. While some designs include safety measures to secure children, youngsters riding in larger cabins without the feature may be at risk of slipping.
Earlier this month a family were left heartbroken when their 12-year-old son died in a ‘one in a million’ tragedy. Jack Murray was skiing at Cranmore Mountain in Conway, New Hampshire on New Year’s Eve when he suddenly hit a tree.
Police said the boy, who was wearing a protective helmet and safety gear at the time of the accident, was found lying unconscious in the snow. He was given CPR at the scene and rushed to hospital , but doctors were unable to save him. His mother, father, brother, cousin and uncle were by his side at the hospital bed when he passed away, according to his family.
