A young Ottawa skier remains in serious condition at CHEO Thursday after suffering life-threatening injuries while dismounting a chair lift Wednesday at the Vorlage ski centre at Wakefield.
MRC-des-Collines police spokesperson Sgt. Martin Fournel said Thursday that preliminary investigation indicates the girl’s hoodie became tangled in the chairlift’s pull device in lift area B at the top of the ski hill at around 2 p.m.
“The victim could not (be freed) and she was caught at the top,” Fournel told the Ottawa Citizen.
The girl’s identity and name of her school has not been released.
First responders were unable to free the girl and a decision was made to move her to the bottom of the ski hill, while still hanging from the cable.
“At this point, we know the person was on a chair lift and something happened when she tried to get off,” Fournel said.
Fournel confirmed there were concerns that the girl was unable to breathe during parts of the rescue.
“There are many witnesses to speak to,” the spokesman said.
At the bottom of the hill, emergency personnel used snowmobile rescue sleds to transport the girl to an ambulance in the parking lot.
She was transported first to Wakefield Hospital, a small facility, where she was revived before being transported to CHEO is serious condition. There has been no update as of Thursday.
Fournel said that, in addition to first responders, investigators from Quebec’s provincial building authority are on the scene for the investigation. The investigators are examining the lift structure, police said.
The police spokesman said police psychological and emotional support workers were on scene to assist both witnesses and police responders.
“The psychological supporters were sent (to the ski hill) for first responders,” Fournel said. “Many people were very strongly affected by the scene.”
Vorlage said on its website Thursday the hills will be closed until further notice.
“Our most sincere thoughts are with the family during this difficult time, and we extend to them our deepest compassion,” the centre said on Facebook.
