A viral video shows a 12-year-old snowboarder dangling from a chairlift at Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort before falling to the slope. Mountain staff deployed padding and a safety net, but the girl missed much of the net and landed on the snow. A woman identifying herself as the girl’s mother said the child "miraculously walked away" without broken bones. The mother added that the chair slipped immediately after boarding, leaving no time to lower the safety bar, and the family plans to return to skiing when she’s ready.
12-Year-Old Falls From Mammoth Mountain Chairlift In Viral Video — Miraculously Walks Away
Ski resort staff scramble to position a safety net beneath a chairlift as a child dangles above the snow at Mammoth Mountain in California on Jan. 31, 2026.(Fox News)
A harrowing video captured a 12-year-old girl falling from a chairlift at Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort after briefly dangling while still strapped to her snowboard.
Incident Captured On Video
The clip, which spread quickly on social media, shows the young snowboarder grasping the chair as her feet flailed in the air. Several mountain staff can be seen rushing to the scene and placing padding and an emergency safety net beneath the lift in an attempt to break her fall.
A 12-year-old girl dangles from a ski chairlift moments before falling at Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort in California on Jan. 31, 2026.
The footage then shows the girl striking the snow and missing much of the safety net. Rescuers appear momentarily stunned in the video before hurrying to assist her on the slope.
Family Account
A woman identifying herself as the girl’s mother commented on the post, saying her daughter "miraculously walked away with no broken bones or major injuries." She thanked the Mammoth Mountain staff and others who rushed to help, calling the episode an "incredibly traumatic experience" but expressing gratitude for the support they received.
Ski patrol respond after a 12-year-old girl fell from a chairlift at Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort in California on Jan. 31, 2026.
"As to the bar — we had no chance," the mother said, explaining that the chair slipped almost immediately after her daughter boarded and there was no time to lower the safety bar. "There was nothing that anyone did wrong. It was a series of small choices that happened quickly that led to a fluke accident."
The video appears to show the girl sitting beside two others before she fell; her mother said the group held on as long as possible, which bought rescuers time to get into position. Despite the trauma, the family says it does not plan to give up skiing and will return when the girl is ready.
Note: The available footage and family statements form the basis of this report. The resort’s official response or any ongoing investigation was not included in the source material.
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