6-year-old girl dies after accident on ski lift in Quebec ski resort

Quebec provincial police are investigating the death of a six-year-old girl following an accident on the Val Saint-Côme ski slope Sunday morning in the Lanaudière region north of Montreal.

The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) confirmed Monday morning that the incident occurred as the girl was using a drag lift to climb the hill around 9:30 a.m

She was taken to hospital in critical condition where she was later pronounced dead.

“We don’t know exactly whether she fell, whether the T-bar was broken or something like that, so the investigation is still ongoing this morning,” said SQ spokeswoman Geneviève Bruno.

“Forensics is working with investigators to find out exactly what happened.”

Speaking to reporters on the ski slope on Monday, François Gagnon, president and CEO of the ski resort, said the entire Val Saint-Côme family was grieving.

“All of our thoughts are with the family and friends,” Gagnon said, adding that a support program was immediately set up for workers devastated by Sunday’s events.

Gagnon said an internal investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident. He said the ski area is also cooperating with the police investigation.

In a tweet, the Quebec Ski Resorts Association said: “The entire industry is struggling today.”

Caroline Proulx, the minister responsible for the Lanaudière region, expressed her condolences to the young girl’s family and said the investigation would “shed light on this tragic event.”

According to Radio-Canada, based on preliminary findings, a spokesman for the ski resort said: “There is no indication that this was a mechanical failure.”

The mountain was closed for evening skiing on Sunday but reopened at 9 a.m. on Monday. The elevator in which the accident occurred remains closed for the time being.