A horrifying accident occurred at a ski resort in central Switzerland on Wednesday when a cable car cabin fell off its cable and rolled down a snowy slope, resulting in the death of a female passenger.
The accident took place in the Titlis ski area in Engelberg. At around 11 am local time, a cable car cabin above the mid-station suddenly detached.
Eyewitnesses captured footage of the cabin losing control, tumbling and flipping down the slope, with the female tourist trapped inside the entire time. Onlookers witnessed the tragedy unfold in shock and horror, with cries of alarm.
One eyewitness stated: "It suddenly came off the cable and started rolling down." Another said that the wind was strong at the time, "first there was intense shaking, then the cable moved, and finally the cabin fell."
Police later confirmed the deceased was a 61-year-old local woman and that she was the only passenger in the cabin at the time. Eyewitnesses reported that rescue personnel performed about 30 minutes of CPR, but she could not be revived. At the time of the accident, wind speeds locally exceeded 80 kilometers per hour.
An aerial rescue helicopter arrived quickly to assist, with rescue personnel operating at the bottom of the slope. Following the accident, the relevant ski slopes and cable car facilities have been suspended, and authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.