A five-year-old boy has died at a Hokkaido ski resort after his arm became trapped in a travelator while on a family holiday.
The incident happened on Sunday at Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort in Otaru. Hinata Goto was stepping off the travelator when he fell, and his right arm became caught in the machinery, Japanese media reported, citing police.
Although the travelator was equipped with a safety mechanism meant to stop the machine if an object was trapped, it did not engage. The device only halted when Hinata’s mother pressed the emergency stop button.
Rescue teams spent about 40 minutes dismantling part of the travelator to free the boy, who was unconscious by the time he was removed. He later died at a nearby hospital.
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Police are investigating whether there was any negligence in the travelator’s maintenance or design. The travelator, installed around six years ago, connects the resort’s car park to the ski slopes and is about 30 meters long and 60 centimeters wide.
A regular visitor told Asahi Shimbun: “Even as an adult, there are times when I think, ‘It’s a little scary.’”
A resort representative expressed regret over the tragedy, saying measures would be taken to prevent future accidents.
Hokkaido, Japan’s ski capital, attracts millions of visitors every winter for its snowy slopes.