The woman died after her backpack became caught in a ski lift at the resort. Photo: Tsugaike Mountain Resort

An Australian woman has died after a ski lift accident in a Japanese resort after her backpack got caught and she was left hanging mid-air.

Japanese news agency Kyodo said police had identified the snowboarder as 22-year-old Ella Day Brooke, who sustained critical injuries at the Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Otari near Nagano on Friday.

An unfastened waist belt buckle on Brooke’s backpack became hooked on the lift chair while a chest strap was still securely fastened, causing her to be dragged along the snow and suspended mid-air, the resort said.

An attendant who pressed the lift’s emergency button and Brooke was rushed to hospital after suffering what appeared to be a cardiac arrest.

“Since the chest strap was fastened, the backpack remained attached to the body,” the company said.

“After disembarking the lift, the customer was dragged along with the backpack. Subsequently, staff pressed the stop button to halt the lift. Prompt rescue efforts were carried out, and the customer was transported by ambulance.”

The resort said Brooke was declared dead soon after arriving at hospital.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and sincerely pray for the peace of the departed,” Tsugaike Mountain Resort president and representative director Tsuneo Kubo said on Saturday.

“Our company will respond with sincerity and dedication to the bereaved family and the deceased guest.

“We will continue to fully cooperate with the police and relevant authorities in their investigation.”

The woman was riding with another person on the double chair lift. That person was uninjured.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed it is providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian who died in Japan, without naming Brooke.

“We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time. Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment,” a departmental spokesperson said.

Kubo said the resort would strengthen its safety protocols and introduce “concrete measures, including thorough awareness campaigns regarding the handling of equipment and enhanced safety monitoring systems for lift operations” to ensure no repeat of such an accident.

The resort has also suspended operations of its double chair lift indefinitely while it carries out investigations and safety reviews.

Tsugaike Mountain Resort is part of the busy Hakuba Valley ski area, and its a popular destination for international skiers and snowboarders, particularly during peak winter months.

It has 18 lifts, including seven pair lifts, which service 18 kilometres of trails.

Chairlift accidents are rare in Japan, where ski resorts are generally regarded as having strong safety records.