BARTLETT, N.H. — A skier plummeted approximately 20 feet (6 meters) to the ground after his chair unhooked from the ski lift, resulting in non-life-threatening injuries, according to state officials in New Hampshire.
Eyewitnesses reported that the man remained conscious after the incident, which took place around 12:15 p.m. on Sunday at Attitash Mountain Resort. He was subsequently transported to a hospital, where he was released by Monday afternoon, as indicated in a communication from the state fire marshal’s office.
The preliminary investigation suggests that a mechanical malfunction was responsible for the detachment of one chair from the lift’s cable, according to the marshal’s office. Fortunately, no other individuals were injured during the incident, and all riders on the lift were safely discharged at the summit.
The Flying Bear lift has been halted as investigations continue, spearheaded by the marshal’s office along with the Passenger Tramway Safety Board. A representative from Vail Resorts, the parent company of Attitash, noted that the resort conducts daily inspections on its lifts. Additionally, chairlifts are subject to both annual and randomized inspections by the state, with the latest state evaluation occurring in November.
David Gunzburger, a skier who frequently visits the area, expressed his concern about the incident, referring to it as a “nightmare” scenario. He recounted witnessing ski patrol personnel attending to the injured man, saying, “He was backboarded, neck brace on,” as they transported him away on a sled.
