Young Skier Awarded $3.3 M After Falling Off Ski Lift

A twelve-year old skier who fell off a high-speed chair lift at Wachusett Mountain in 2015 was recently awarded $3.3 million in damages by the mountain. The incident occurred at the western Massachusetts resort when the young skier accidentally sat on the arm of the chair while loading. Improperly seated, he slipped through the chair and turned so that his back was to the mountain as others on the chair called for the lift to be stopped. In spite of the commotion, the lift continued up the mountain for three minutes, as another person on the chairlift held onto the boy. Eventually the dangling skier hit a snow gun and the other rider lost his grip, causing the 12-year-old to fall 30 feet to the ground. He suffered five fractured vertebrae, a fractured pelvis, and a severe concussion, though no surgery was required.

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The skier, now 17, is expected to have back pain for much of his life and is “working hard to manage the aftereffects of the concussion.” Wachusett Mountain issued a press release in which they wished the plaintiff “the best, and hopes that he continues to enjoy a healthy and productive life.”