A young Australian man who died while skiing in Japan has been identified, as heartbreaking tributes pour in.
A young Australian man who died while skiing in Japan has been identified, as heartbreaking tributes pour in.
Michael “Micky” Hurst, 27, was skiing in unpatrolled back-country terrain between Niseko Moiwa and Niseko Annupuri International Ski Resorts on Monday afternoon.
Local reports say Hurst, who was travelling in a group of seven, fell behind the group around halfway down a mountain.
Once realizing this, the group returned to look for him around 3 pm, where they found four skiers performing CPR on their unconscious friend.
He was then transported to the hospital, where he later died.
Hurst is believed to have died from a heart attack, while early reports from local media indicate he disappeared in an avalanche.
The 27-year-old, who grew up in Melbourne’s Bayside community, had been working at a local hotel at a ski resort in Niseko, a popular skiing and snowboarding destination.
In a heartbreaking tribute online posted by a family friend, Hurst was remembered as the “healthiest, good-looking, but most humble child, young man, we knew.”
“No mother wants to have to be the one to tell you the news that your childhood best friend passed away, having a heart attack on the slopes of Japan,” she 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.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed to news.com.au it 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.”
Consular assistance may include support and guidance to families and liaison with local and Australian authorities to assist with funeral arrangements or repatriation of remains.
Second death in days
The incident comes just days after 22-year-old Brooke Day was killed in a freak accident while exiting a chairlift in Japan.
Close friends have started a GoFundMe to provide financial support for the young woman’s family.
Brooke Day, 22, died after her backpack became entangled with a chair lift buckle at the Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Otari last weekend, as she attempted to disembark the lift.
She spent several agonising minutes trapped and suspended from the chair lift before going into cardiac arrest.
