Young Australian man dies while skiing at popular ski resort in Japan – just days after another Aussie was killed in a horror chairlift accident
The Australian man who died at a Japan ski resort days after a woman was killed in a tragic chairlift accident has been remembered as ‘the most humble’ by loved ones.
Michael ‘Micky’ Hurst, 27, was skiing at the back of a group of seven people in back-country between Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort and Niseko Annupuri International Ski Resort on Monday afternoon.
Local media reports Mr Hurst’s friends realised he had disappeared halfway down a mountain and went back to look for him about 3pm.
They found him unconscious and being given CPR by a group of four skiers.
Mr Hurst is understood to have died from a heart attack, with early reports suggesting he was buried in an avalanche, the Herald Sun reports.
Local police said an investigation had been launched into how the 27-year-old died, but said there were no visible injuries.
The 27-year-old had been working at a lodging facility at a ski resort in Niseko, a popular skiing and snowboarding destination.
A family friend of the former St Bede’s College student lead a series of heartbreaking tributes shared to social media on Wednesday.
The man was skiing at the back of a group of seven people in back-country between Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort and Niseko Annupuri International Ski Resort (pictured) on Monday
Michael ‘Micky’ Hurst, 27, is understood to have died from a heart attack, with early reports suggesting he was buried in an avalanche
Brooke Day, 22, was snowboarding and had caught the chairlift at Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Otari, in the Nagano Prefecture, on Friday when she became stuck
‘No mother wants to have to be the one to tell you the news your childhood best friend passed away having a heart attack on the slopes of Japan,’ the mother wrote.
‘Knowing he died doing the sport he loved the most makes us happy knowing you left this world in full action. Taken way too soon.’
Mr Hurst’s death comes just two days after a young Australian woman died in a tragic ski resort accident while on a working holiday in Japan.
Brooke Day, 22, was snowboarding and had caught the chairlift at Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Otari, in the Nagano prefecture, on Friday when she became stuck.
Tsugaike Mountain Resort chief executive Tsuneo Kubo said the lift buckle became tangled with her backpack while she was trying to get off.
Ms Day was then dragged along as the lift turned in the opposite direction.
It’s understood the backpack could not be swiftly removed from Ms Day as the chest strap remained fastened.
A worker pressed an emergency button, bringing the chairlift to a stop.
Early reports suggest the man was buried by an avalanche, with the region receiving a record amount of snowfall in the last two weeks (pictured, snowboarders on Mount Annupuri)
Ms Day is understood to have gone into cardiac arrest after she became stuck on a chairlift
Ms Day is understood to have gone into cardiac arrest before she was rushed to hospital, where she was confirmed dead on Sunday.
The Tsugaike Mountain Resort and Tsugaike Gondola Lift Co jointly apologised for the accident and said an investigation would be launched.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman said the man’s family was being provided with assistance.
‘The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian who died in Japan. We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time,’ a DFAT spokesperson said.
‘Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.’
The incidents weeks after a five-year-old boy died at a ski resort when his arm became trapped in a magic carpet ski lift in northern Japan.
Japan is one of the favourite foreign locations Australian holidaymakers, with visitor numbers steadily rising.
More than one million Australian tourists made the trip in 2025, which was a 15 per cent jump compared to 2024.
