When a child failed to offload at the top of Mt Baker’s Chair 1 and went around the bull wheel, he tripped the automatic stop mechanism and brought the entire chairlift to a halt.
Resort staff quickly hopped into action and brought out the fireman style catch blanket and enlisted a few guests to grab a handle “knuckles up” and to create tension on the blanket to break this boy’s fall. After some reassuring words of encouragement and a countdown from three, the boy dropped and experienced the gentle landing these types of rescue devices are designed for.
If you’re wondering why they didn’t make him take off his skis prior to dropping, he had already tried and was unable to do so. Nice work by Mt. Baker staff and the guests who joined in. Well done!