Tragedy as woman, 22, dies in freak accident at popular holiday hotspot

Brooke Day tragically died after a ski lift accident (Image: FACEBOOK)

A young woman has tragically died after a freak accident while on a working holiday in Japan. Brooke Day, 22, from Australia, was snowboarding at the Tsugaike Mountain ski resort in Otari on Sunday when her backpack got tangled in a lift buckle.

It is believed Brooke was dragged through the snow while her chest strap was still fastened. Staff at the resort pressed the emergency button to stop the lift. The young woman, who had reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest, was rushed to hospital in an ambulance. Tragically, she was pronounced shortly afterwards. The Tsugaike Mountain resort and Tsugaike Gondola Lift Co have apologised following the tragic accident. They added that an investigation will be launched into her death. Ski lift operator Tsugaike Gondola Lift Co said a "buckle at the end of an unfastened waist belt attached to a backpack carried by a customer became caught in the lift carriage".

The tragic accident happened at the Tsugaike Mountain Resort (Image: Tsugaike Mountain Resort)

Brooke's devastated family has received condolences from the company's chief executive, who has vowed to do the utmost to help them at this difficult time.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was "providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian who died in Japan".

Brooke loved 'getting to know the patients and making them feel welcome and seen' (Image: Hakuba Physio)

They said in a statement: "We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time."

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