Jeffrey Zinne, 37, fell from the Triple Chair at Red Lodge Mountain in Montana, US, and was taken to hospital where he died of his injuries two days after the incident

A snowboarder tragically lost his life after falling from a malfunctioning chairlift. Jeffrey Zinne, 37, fell from the lift at Red Lodge Mountain in Montana, US, around midday on Monday.

Over 100 individuals who were on the ‘Triple Chair’ lift at the time were evacuated by ski patrollers using ropes to lower them safely to the ground. Jeffrey, a father, was immediately rushed to hospital but sadly succumbed to his injuries early Wednesday, as confirmed by police and the coroner.

Red Lodge Mountain spokesperson, Troy Hawks, revealed that the lift experienced a mechanical issue when the snowboarder fell. He assured that an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, including weather conditions and the victim’s actions, is ongoing.

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On the morning of the accident, several other chairlifts across the ski region were closed due to high winds. The National Weather Service reported wind gusts of approximately 50 mph (80.4 kph) in the area shortly before and after the incident, reports the Mirror.

Mr Hawks stated that the Triple Chairlift, nearly a mile (1.6 kilometers) long and constructed in 1983, was operating within safety guidelines at the time. It will remain closed until a thorough assessment by an engineer is completed.

According to Mr Hawks, staff at the ski area conduct daily inspections of its chairlifts. Additionally, an annual professional inspection is carried out as mandated by Red Lodge Mountain’s insurance provider and the US Forest Service, which leases land to the ski area.

Jeffrey, who had been enjoying snowboarding on Monday before his tragic accident, leaves behind a wife and a two year old son. He was also the proprietor of Montana Air Cartage, a freight hauling firm. This information comes from a GoFundMe page that has been established to support his family during this difficult time.

“He was more than just a boss for many people here. He was a friend, a mentor,” shared Jessica Sande, a manager at Montana Air Cartage, while fondly remembering Zinne’s contagious laughter.

According to statistics from the National Ski Areas Association, fatal accidents involving ski lifts are uncommon. From 1956 to 2024, there have been 35 fatalities linked to chairlifts and aerial ropeways.

Out of these, 16 deaths were attributed to mechanical failures, as per the records maintained by the association.

The most recent fatality recorded in this context occurred in 2020, when a man lost his life at Colorado’s Vail resort. His demise was caused by his clothing becoming entangled in a component of the chairlift, which tragically led to asphyxiation.