Niseko, Hokkaido: Australian man dies after reported avalanche in Japan’s north

An Australian man died after being caught in an avalanche while skiing at a popular resort in Japan’s Hokkaido region.

According to a local news outletThe man, thought to be in his 20s, was skiing off-piste with a group of seven friends between Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort and Niseko Annupuri International Ski Resort on Monday, February 2 (local time).

He was reportedly skiing behind the group when he separated halfway up the slope. When his friends retraced their route to look for him, they encountered another group of skiers who were performing CPR.

One of the seven raised the alarm around 3 p.m. and contacted his supervisor at the ski resort where he worked.

Emergency crews managed to pull the man out of the snow, but he was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was providing consular assistance.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian who died in Japan. We extend our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time,” a DFAT spokesman said.

“Due to our confidentiality obligations we are unable to comment further.”

The man’s identity has not yet been released.

The tragedy comes just three days after an Australian woman was killed in a horrific crash at a popular ski resort west of Tokyo on Friday.

The woman was at Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Otari, Nagano Prefecture, when she was caught on the ski lift around 9 a.m.

It is thought that the woman’s backpack got tangled in the elevator buckle as she tried to get off the elevator.

She was then dragged through the snow and remained suspended in the air as the elevator continued to move until staff managed to stop the elevator and the woman was rescued.

It was learned that the woman had a heart attack and her condition was critical.