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Boy, 5, Dies After Arm Is Trapped in Travelator at Hokkaido Ski Resort

Officials say the automatic stop failed, raising questions about safety checks.

Overview

  • Authorities identified the victim as Hinata Goto, 5, of Sapporo.
  • His right arm was caught near the exit around 10 a.m.; he was freed after about 40 minutes and later pronounced dead.
  • Resort officials say the automatic stop did not trigger, the boy’s mother hit the emergency button, and the system had worked in a check earlier that morning.
  • Staff could not free him, and emergency crews dismantled part of the travelator to release his arm.
  • The outdoor conveyor links the parking area to the slopes and lacks a handrail, with visitors reporting belt shaking at slope changes; local reports said the resort stayed open after the accident.