An impressive scene was filmed in Cervinia, in the Italian Alps on March 28. The ski resort was about to close the Cretaz ski lift due to rapidly deteriorating weather conditions. According to a press release from the stationgusts of up to 100 km/h greatly agitated the area, endangering the last chairlift passengers still present on site.
Among these tourists was Stephanie, an experienced skier. “It was the scariest experience of my life,” she told Mail Online. Stuck with a friend on this chairlift, she experienced an ordeal of almost forty minutes. Viral footage of the incident showed their cabin being shaken violently, with another gondola threatening to hit them. “The chair on the left was swinging a few centimeters from us, so I thought about jumping, I thought about it three times,” this mother told the British media.
An “exceptional and unpredictable” incident
Despite this traumatic experience, resort managers, according to Stephanie, minimized the risks faced by skiers. “They tried to say we were never in danger,” she said. She also expressed anger over the lack of safety protocols and lack of communication during the incident.
The president of the station, Federico Maquignaz, described the event as “exceptional and unpredictable”, nevertheless emphasizing the absence of serious injuries. “All those on board arrived at their destination without consequences,” the station’s statement confirmed. However, Stephanie remained marked by this experience. “I will never ski in Italy again,” she assured.