An 18-year-old boy fell off a ski lift at Ward Hill ski resort in Massachusetts yesterday evening. It’s suspected that the boy had a seizure while riding the chairlift and that the seizure was the cause of his fall. He was found face down in hard snow below the chairlift unconscious. He died that day in the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester.
The boy was training with Nipmuc Regional High School ski team teammates at the time of the accident.
The 911 call went through at 6:43 pm on Wednesday. The boy was taken to the medical center and was pronounced dead at 7:24 pm.
“On the evening of January 4th, a member of the Nipmuc High School Race Team apparently suffered a medical emergency and then fell from the chairlift. It saddens us to have learned that the racer has passed away. As a family operated ski area, this tragedy is close to our hearts. Please join the Ski Ward family in giving our heartfelt thoughts, prayers and support to his family and friends during this difficult time.” – Ward Hill ski resort
There have been a few of these incidents lately in the USA. Is it time we do something to prevent them?
Squaw Valley is now requiring that minors ride the chairlift with an adult on every chairlift ride. Catedral ski resort in Argentina does the same. Is that enough?