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Tragedy strikes Australian family during snowmobile tour
An eight-year-old girl from Queensland has died after a snowmobile overturned during a guided tour in Japan's Hakuba Valley, trapping her underneath the vehicle. Chloe Jeffries, from the Gold Coast, was riding with her mother when the accident occurred on Saturday morning.
How the accident unfolded
According to tour operator Hakuba Lion Adventure, the snowmobile veered off course while navigating an uphill curve on a forest road. The vehicle climbed an embankment before flipping back onto the trail, pinning Jeffries beneath it. She was airlifted to hospital but succumbed to her injuries.
The incident took place just before 11:00 local time, with the tour group consisting of nine snowmobiles and three guides, the company's CEO Shinji Wada said in a statement.
Tour operator suspends activities amid investigation
Hakuba Lion Adventure has halted all snowmobile and snowshoe tours pending a review of its safety protocols. Wada described the event as a "tragic accident" and expressed condolences to the family.
Japanese police are investigating the cause of the crash, while Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is providing consular support to Jeffries' family.
Tributes pour in for 'cheeky' young netballer
Jeffries' netball club on the Gold Coast paid tribute to her, remembering her as a girl with a "beautiful nature" and an "infectious smile." The loss marks the fourth Australian fatality at Japanese ski resorts this year.
Recent fatalities raise safety concerns
In February, 27-year-old Melbourne man Michael Hurst died after collapsing while skiing between resorts in Hokkaido. Days earlier, 22-year-old Brooke Day suffered a fatal heart attack after her backpack became entangled in a chairlift at Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Nagano.
January saw the death of 16-year-old Rylan Henry Pribadi, who asphyxiated after colliding with a boundary rope at Niseko Ski Resort in Hokkaido, according to reports.
