Hinata Goto, a 5-year-old kindergarten student, was on a family vacation at the Asari ski resort in Asarigawa Onsen district, Otaru city, Hokkaido. On 28/12, Hinata and his mother were using a conveyor belt to travel from the parking lot to the ski slopes. As he prepared to exit the belt, Hinata fell, and his right arm became trapped.
His mother immediately called emergency services, reporting the incident around 10h. The boy was freed approximately 40 minutes after the call, but he was unconscious. Hinata was transported to a hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
Hokkaido police are investigating the incident.
This conveyor belt, installed 6 years ago, is about 30 m long and 60 cm wide, just enough for one adult to stand on, and lacks a handrail. Regular visitors to the resort describe the conveyor as convenient, allowing them to move between the parking area and the ski slopes without using stairs.
The conveyor belt where the 5-year-old boy was injured at Asari ski resort in Asarigawa Onsen district, Otaru city, Hokkaido on 28/12. Video: Asahi Shimbun
Resort management stated that a maintenance cover is located at the end of the conveyor belt. If this cover opens for any reason, such as an object becoming trapped, a safety mechanism should activate to immediately stop the belt.
However, sources at the scene reported that the emergency safety mechanism did not activate when the boy became trapped. The belt only stopped after his mother pressed the emergency stop button located at the end.
Other visitors reported stumbling while using this type of conveyor belt. "Even as an adult, I sometimes find it a bit scary", one tourist commented.
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Visitors using the conveyor belt at Asari ski resort. Photo: Facebook/Asari Ski Resort
Hokkaido is renowned for its ski resorts, attracting millions of tourists annually, most of whom visit during the winter months for skiing. Asari, situated near the Asarigawa Onsen hot springs and a highway interchange, is popular with both local and international visitors.
Huyen Le (According to Asahi, BBC)
