An Australian schoolgirl died while on holiday with her family at a Japanese ski resort.
Chloe Jeffries, eight, from Queensland’s Gold Coast, was riding a snowmobile in the Hakuba Valley in northwest Nagano Prefecture on Saturday when the bike overturned, fatally injuring her.
She received first aid at the scene and was taken to hospital by helicopter, but could not be revived, the Hakuba Lion Adventure travel company said in a statement.
“The snowmobile tour was conducted with a total of nine snowmobiles, including three guides,” the company said. “During the ride, near an uphill curve along a logging road, the snowmobile… went up the embankment at the side of the trail.”
“The vehicle subsequently rolled. As a result of the rollover, the tandem passenger on the snowmobile was trapped underneath the vehicle.”
The travel company said it was suspending all snowmobile and snowshoe tours until further notice while it conducts a review of its offerings and safety procedures. He said he is working closely with police and other authorities to investigate the death.
“We sincerely and deeply apologize for the great concern and distress caused to all parties involved and to our customers,” the company said in a statement.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on Wednesday morning it was providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian who died in Japan.
“We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time,” the agency said in a statement.
The Hakuba Valley is located at the base of the northern Japanese Alps. The region hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics.
The South Coast Netball Association paid tribute to Chloe on Tuesday afternoon.
“Chloe was a very special part of our South Coast netball family. She was known for her beautiful nature, her cheeky and infectious smile and the joy she brought simply by being herself. Chloe had a way of bringing joy to the courts and the people around her,” the association said in a social media post.
“Above all, Chloe was her big sister Hallee’s biggest supporter, always cheering from the sidelines, full of pride, encouragement and love.”
Chloe’s is the fourth death of an Australian in the snowfields of Japan this year.
In February, 27-year-old Michael Hurst from Melbourne died while skiing in Niseko. Queensland snowboarder Brooke Day died in January after her avalanche rescue backpack became trapped in a chairlift. Earlier that month, Brisbane teenager Ryan Pribadi reportedly died while skiing in Niseko.
