Seven-Year-Old Girl Falls Off Ski Lift at Nashoba Valley

A seven-year-old girl on a trip to was transported to UMass Medical Center in Worcester earlier this afternoon after falling approximately 17 feet from a chair lift.

The girl, who was at the ski area as part of a trip with the Concord Recreational Ski Program, was near the top of an intermediate level difficulty slope known as the Sundown Triple when her friend reportedly opened the safety bar prematurely and waved, slightly skewing the balance of the lift and sending the girl into two feet of packed powder below.

Ski Patrol first responders were on the scene 30 seconds after the incident occurred and paramedics reported that the girl was fully conscious and had full mobility, but reported pain focused in her back.

According to Nashoba Valley Ski Area General Manager Al Fletcher, there was no mechanical problems with the lift and skiers were on the trail shortly after the incident occurred.

Although Fletcher said that traumatic accidents occur on average approximately four to six times a year at the ski area, they are fairly uncommon in comparison to the approximately 11,000 ski runs that can occur at the resort on a busy day each winter.

While the resort does not mandate helmet use, Fletcher noted that the resort strongly encourages helmet use for all its patrons and participates in the Lids on Kids ski safety program.

Nashoba Valley Ski Area Ski Patrol Director Becky Reeves noted that during the resort’s busy season between Christmas and February, the hill will average approximately one ambulance visit per day and approximately four to six entries on the area’s “Band-aid log,” a list of minor ailments that skiers suffer during an average day.