37-Year-Old Man Passes Away From A Malfunction Chairlift

Chairlifts are an important form of transportation from going to one high point to another. It allows tourists to ascend and descend the slopes, which are a vital component of modern ski resorts. While generally considered safe, ski chairlifts are not without risks, as accidents can occur due to factors such as mechanical failure, human error, or extreme weather conditions.

Saleen Martin who is a reporter on USA Today states that, “Yesterday was an unfortunate day at Red Lodge Mountain as a guest was injured as the result of a chair lift incident,” the resort shared on Facebook Tuesday morning, adding that the guest was on the Triple Chair. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the guest and his friends and family, and all guests and employees impacted by this incident.”

After further investigation, the 37-year-old man staying at the southern Montana ski resort, Red Lodge Mountain, was identified as Jeffery Zine, a husband and father. 

Jeffery Zime was riding by himself in a three-person chairlift on Monday. He ended up falling from an unknown height. He was then taken to a hospital and unfortunately passed away Tuesday night, according to NBC Montana. Red Lodge Mountain spokesperson Troy Hawks said the lift had a mechanical problem at the time of the incident.

The chairlift ended up shutting down after finding out about the incident. People were still on the lift and had to be safely evacuated. The ski patrol used ropes to lower more than 100 people to the ground. We place a top priority on the safety of all of our lifts and lift operations, and perform daily, weekly, monthly, and annual safety measures to better ensure the safe operation of our lifts," the resort said. The Triple Chair will reopen when the resort makes sure that it will be able to accommodate people safely and efficiently. 

This unfortunate event has raised concerns about ski lift safety, with investigations now underway to determine the cause of the fall. This incident serves as a reminder of the inherent risks associated with winter sports, despite the numerous safety measures that resorts implement.