A terrifying moment at a California ski resort was caught on video when a 12-year-old girl dangled from a chairlift before falling to the ground. The incident happened Saturday at and quickly spread across social media.
The girl, who was visiting the resort as a snowboarder, appeared to be unsecured shortly after boarding the lift. Video footage shows her gripping the chair desperately as her feet flailed in the air, still strapped into her snowboard.
Staff Rush to Respond Below
As the girl struggled to hold on, several resort employees ran underneath the lift. Staff placed padding and a safety net on the snow in an effort to reduce the impact of her fall.
Moments later, the girl lost her grip and fell. Witnesses gasped as she dropped, landing in the area where workers had tried to prepare for her descent.
Mother Says Accident Was a “Fluke”
Questions quickly surfaced online about why the chairlift safety bar had not been lowered. The girl’s mother addressed those concerns, saying the incident unfolded too quickly for anyone to react.
“As to the bar, we had no chance,” she said. “She slipped down right away. There was nothing that anyone did wrong. It was a series of small choices that happened quickly that led to a fluke accident.”
The video shows the girl seated next to two other riders. According to her mother, they held onto her as long as they could to buy time for rescuers below.
Family Credits Quick Action
“We held on as long as we could,” the mother said. “Long enough to have people get into position to allow her to walk away.”
Despite the frightening fall, the girl survived and was able to walk away from the incident. Her injuries were not described as life threatening.
Not the End of Skiing for the Family
The family said the accident will not stop them from returning to the slopes. The mother said her daughter plans to snowboard again once she is ready.
Mammoth Mountain officials have not released further details about the incident. Ski resorts typically require safety bars to be lowered once riders are seated, and investigations often follow incidents involving chairlifts.
Video Sparks Safety Debate
The viral footage has renewed debate about chairlift safety, especially for children. Experts say most lift accidents happen during loading or unloading and stress the importance of proper seating and immediate use of safety bars.
While rare, falls from ski lifts can cause serious injury. Industry guidelines emphasize that both riders and operators play a role in preventing accidents.
Coverage of the incident has been widely shared online and reported by national outlets including NBC News and CNN, as viewers react to the dramatic footage.