Five-year-old boy dies after arm trapped in travelator at Hokkaido ski resort
Hinata Goto, a five-year-old boy from Sapporo, died after his right arm became trapped in a travelator at Asari ski resort in Otaru, Hokkaido. The travelator, which is 30 metres long, 60 cm wide, and connects the resort's car park to a ski slope, lacks handrails. Hinata fell while attempting to get off the travelator. Firefighters arrived following an emergency call from his mother and freed him approximately 40 minutes later, but he died at the hospital.
The safety mechanism designed to trigger when objects are trapped reportedly failed after the mother pressed the emergency stop button, although it had worked earlier during a routine inspection that day. No staff members were on duty near the travelator at the time of the incident, according to media reports.
Police in Hokkaido have launched an investigation, and reports indicate that charges of professional negligence resulting in death could be filed against relevant parties. An official from the resort issued an apology for the accident. The design of the travelator has faced criticism, prompting calls for a thorough investigation and enhanced safety measures.
