Family of snowboarder who died in freak chairlift accident shares heartbreaking statement

The family of an Australian snowboarder who died in a freak accident at a ski resort in Japan has released a heartbreaking statement.

Brooke Day, 22, died last Friday after an accident on a chair lift at the Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Otari, Nagano Prefecture.

Day’s backpack is believed to have become entangled with a lift buckle as she attempted to leave the lift.

With her backpack snagged on the machinery, Day was dragged along the snow and then suspended mid-air as the lift kept moving.

Staff managed to halt the lift, and Day, who reportedly had suffered cardiac arrest, was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

However, she was declared dead shortly afterwards.

On Tuesday, her family explained it was an Avalanche Rescue backpack