Teen Snowboarder Hospitalized After Plunging from Chairlift While Ski Resort Employees Tried to Slow Her Fall
"When the guest slipped from the grasp of her chair mates, the net decelerated her fall, but did not stop it," Mammoth Mountain ski resort operators said
A 16-year-old snowboarder was hospitalized after falling from a ski lift despite resort employees and bystanders' trying to slow down her fall.
A video capturing the incident was posted on Instagram which showed the teen dangling off the chairlift at the Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort in California as two other people on the chair tried to hold on to her. A circle of employees and guests could also be seen below the girl holding a black net to catch her.
The teen was unable to hold on to the chairlift and appeared to fall a few feet in the air before hitting the net and then the ground. Employees and guests could then be seen moving to check on her.
Mammoth Mountain did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on the incident, which occurred on Jan. 27.
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Mountain operators told local outlet KABC-TV in a statement: “Five Mammoth Mountain employees and eight guests immediately responded and positioned the deceleration net under the guest.”
"When the guest slipped from the grasp of her chair mates, the net decelerated her fall, but did not stop it. The guest was transported to Mammoth Hospital for evaluation,” the statement continued. “Our thoughts are with the guest and her family."
The ski resort did not say whether the girl sustained any injuries from the fall or what her current condition is.
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A spokesperson for Mammoth Mountain ski resort also provided additional information to local outlet KTLA about how the teen ended up dangling off the chairlift.
“As the chair began its ascent, the guest, who for unknown reasons was not completely seated, began sliding off the chair,” the spokesperson said. “The other individuals on the chair grabbed hold of the guest and held her from falling as Lift Operators stopped the lift.”
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The Mammoth Mountain Ski resort is one of California’s highest ski resorts with a summit at 11,053 feet above sea level, according to its website. It is located in Mammoth Lakes, which is approximately five hours north of Los Angeles and three hours south of Reno, Nevada.
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