8-year-old dangling from ski lift in Vermont rescued, video shows
8-year-old dangling from ski lift rescued
An 8-year-old boy was rescued after dangling from a chairlift at Killington Ski Resort in Vermont. (Credit: Steven Swain via Storyful)
KILLINGTON, Vt. - A dramatic rescue took place last week at a ski resort in Vermont when an eight-year-old boy became stranded while dangling from a chairlift.
The Killington Ski Resort's ski patrol responded, using a sling and a catch net to safely bring him down.
Footage captures rescue
Footage recorded on the scene by Steven Swain shows the boy holding onto the chairlift with his arms.
What they're saying:
"This kid somehow managed to slip off the quad chair but had his arm behind the bar which was up when I came upon the scene," Swain told Storyful. "The other people on the chair had his other arm but he was dangling pretty far down."
The resort said the child, who was saved, was not fully seated while leaving the loading area, according to local news outlet NBC 5.
FILE: Skiers and snowboarders ride a ski lift. (Credit: Artur Widak/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Swain also told Storyful that rescuers attempted to use a rescue sling, but that the child slipped out of the sling and fell into a catch net, unharmed, which can be seen in the footage.
RELATED: Skier injured after chair falls 20 feet from lift at New Hampshire ski resort
"Happy ending to a hairy mishap," Swain added.
Child evaluated on-site
NBC 5 reported that the child was evaluated on-site and transported down the mountain via snowmobile. He appeared to be fine.
What they're saying:
The resort also said they were grateful for the diligence and expertise of mountain operations and ski patrol team members who assisted, and added that although incidents like these are rare, they serve as a "reminder of the importance of lift safety when skiing and riding."
Skier injured at New Hampshire ski resort
Big picture view:
Earlier this month, authorities were investigating after a chair fell 20 feet from a ski lift, injuring one person, according to the State Fire Marshal’s office.
The New Hampshire Division of Fire Safety said first responders were called to the Attitash Mountain Resort along Route 302 for a report of a chair detaching from a chairlift.
Tramway inspectors with the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office said a man was in the chair when it dislodged from the Flying Bear lift and fell about 20 feet. Everyone else made it to the top of the lift and was unloaded safely.
The man was assisted by Ski Patrol and taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.