The family of Brooke Day, a 22-year-old Australian snowboarder who died after a chairlift incident at Tsugaike Mountain Resort, released a statement this week remembering her as a caring daughter and “the safe one” among friends. Day was fatally injured late last week when part of her avalanche rescue backpack became entangled as she stepped off a lift, leading to a medical emergency and her death at a nearby hospital.
Day’s death has resonated across two countries — at the Hakuba Valley resort where she had spent recent seasons and in her home state of Queensland — drawing tributes from sporting clubs, colleagues and local communities. Her parents and siblings said she had recently completed avalanche safety training and often looked after others on the mountain. Japanese authorities and resort operators expressed condolences and began reviews of procedures around lift loading and unloading. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was assisting the family as arrangements were made to return her remains. The case comes during a busy Northern Hemisphere ski season with heavy visitor numbers and shifting snow conditions in Nagano Prefecture.
According to accounts from family members and local officials, Day was disembarking a lift at Tsugaike when the buckle or strap of an avalanche rescue backpack she wore caught on hardware near the unloading point shortly after 3 p.m. The motion dragged and briefly suspended her before operators halted the lift. Staff members and bystanders freed her and called emergency services. She was transported to Omachi General Hospital, where doctors worked to stabilize her. She suffered cardiac arrest and did not recover, relatives said. “She was our beautiful girl, careful and kind to everyone,” her family said in the statement. Friends who rode with her in recent weeks said she was methodical about gear checks and route planning, even on familiar runs.
Officials in Nagano Prefecture said investigators interviewed lift operators and maintenance staff, reviewed operating logs and examined the chair’s safety bars and unloading ramp. The resort said the chairlift was stopped within moments of staff noticing the entanglement and that a team responded on the platform. The operator expressed sorrow to the family and said it would look at additional signage and briefings around backpacks, straps and loose equipment near the unloading area. Japanese police did not release a full report and did not immediately identify any mechanical defects. The hospital confirmed that Day arrived in critical condition. The family said they were at her side when she died and thanked medical staff and friends who gathered at the hospital.
In Australia, tributes appeared from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane. Day had played Oztag, rugby union and Australian rules football, and was remembered by clubs as a reliable teammate with an easy laugh. Co-workers at a surf lifesaving club posted photos and called her a steady presence during busy weekends. In Japan, skiers left flowers near the base area and a hand-lettered note that read, “Ride in peace, Brooke.” Resort veterans said backpacks and avalanche tools are common in the backcountry and on advanced terrain, and that riders often keep them on when crossing resort lifts to link zones. Safety advocates said incidents involving entanglement are rare but underline the risks of straps and loose items at loading and unloading points. Friends said Day was on her fourth snow season in Japan and often volunteered to help less experienced riders.
Authorities said the inquiry will proceed in two tracks: a police review of the death and an internal safety assessment by the resort and lift operator. Investigators are expected to analyze video from base-area cameras, time-stamped lift logs and the backpack hardware involved. The operator said it would consult manufacturers on guidance for riders carrying rescue gear and consider posted reminders at chairs serving terrain where backcountry access is common. Australia’s consular officials said they are coordinating with local police and the family on documentation for repatriation. No criminal charges have been announced. Any changes to operating procedures will likely be detailed in a written report from the resort before the end of the season, according to people familiar with the process.
Community memories framed a portrait of a young woman who blended discipline with warmth. A rugby coach in Queensland called her “a little legend” who checked in on teammates after hard matches. A friend who shared a house in Hakuba said Day cooked big breakfasts before powder days and kept a list of everyone’s radio channels and meeting points taped by the door. Another friend remembered her reminding the group to stow dangling straps before riding lifts. At the base of Tsugaike this week, visitors paused near a small cluster of white flowers, a beanie and a paper crane. “It’s heartbreaking,” said a snowboarder from Tokyo, adding that the story spread quickly through chat groups and lift lines.
As of Friday, officials had not released a final cause-of-death report or any mandated changes to lift operations. The family said they plan a memorial in Queensland after she is brought home. Resort managers said lift staff will receive additional briefings while investigators continue interviews and equipment checks. Further updates are expected as authorities conclude reviews and the operator prepares an end-of-season safety summary.
Author note: Last updated February 6, 2026.