Australian man dies at popular ski resort in Hokkaido, Japan
An Australian man died while skiing at a famous ski resort in Japan.
Emergency services were called to a ski resort in Niseko, Hokaido, Japan, on February 2 after reports of a man missing in the mountains.
Initial reports in the local media indicate that he was lost under an avalanche.
The Australian man, thought to be in his 20s and working at an accommodation facility, was reportedly skiing with a group of seven friends between Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort and Niseko Annupuri International Ski Resort when he disappeared.
According to local news, the man was at the back of the group when he disappeared.
The group of friends eventually returned to locate the man and found CPR being administered to the man by four people.
Firefighters rescued the man and took him to the hospital, where he died.
Local police said they were investigating the man’s cause of death and that there were no visible injuries.
The Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said it was aware of the report and was providing assistance to the man’s family.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of a deceased Australian in Japan,” they told NewsWire.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time. Due to our confidentiality obligations, we are unable to comment further.”
The man’s death comes just days after Queenslander Brooke Day was killed in a horror crash at a ski resort in Japan.
His backpack got caught in the elevator buckle while trying to get off the chairlift at Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Otari.
It was reported that the snowboarder was dragged in the snow and remained suspended in the air while the chairlift was moving.
He was taken to hospital but died a short time later.
