Harbor Springs, MI – Two skiers sustained minor injuries when a chair fell from a lift late last month at Boyne Highlands ski area in Michigan.
At approximately 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, a single chair fell from the Camelot lift, located in the beginner area at Boyne Highlands Resort. Two unidentified people, said to be a ski instructor and a young girl, were on the chair at the time of the incident and the chair was approximately six feet off the ground.
The cause of the mishap remains under investigation. Boyne Highlands’ officials are working with the Lift Inspector for the State of Michigan to determine the cause, although early reports identify the issue as a “misload.”
“The safety of our customers is our utmost concern and we take this incident very seriously,” said Boyne Highlands’ area manager Joe Breighner. “We wish our guests that were affected a full and speedy recovery.”
The Camelot lift undergoes a daily safety check list before operating each morning, resort officials indicate. In addition, the lift passed a yearly state safety inspection prior to the 2011-12 winter season, which is required for a chairlift to operate.
Following the incident, the resort safely unloaded all passengers currently on the lift, and the lift was shut down. Resort officials then worked with the State of Michigan Lift Inspector throughout the day to ensure the necessary steps were taken to safely operate the lift. At approximately 4 p.m. on Saturday, after completing a series of safety checks and with the approval of the State of Michigan, the Camelot chairlift was reopened.