Several Thredbo skiers were left in a terrifying situation when they were trapped on a malfunctioning ski lift. On this day in 1962, The Canberra Times reported on their ordeal and the likely cause of the accident.
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One skier fell from his chair when trying to make a straight 20-foot drop onto soft snow, and suffered a fractured skull. The injured man was Don Alexander and he remained in a satisfactory condition in hospital.
Two other skiers suffered minor injuries when they tried to jump to safety. Both were able to leave hospital soon after admission.
It was reported that the lift's main cable had sagged, causing a sudden drop in the lift. Some skiers were left close to the ground while others were left dangling 50 feet above the snow. Lift operators worked for about a quarter of an hour before they were able to be let down.
Most of the 1000 skiers on holidays at Thredbo were having lunch when the accident occurred. Had the incident taken place just one hour later, there would have been many more skiers on board the lifts.
A spokesman for the company operating the chairlift said the lift would be back in operation the next day.
