A five-year-old boy has died after getting his arm caught in a ski lift while on holiday with his fmaily. The incident unfolded in Sunday morning at Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort in Japan, when Hinata Goto was about to step off the travelator. He then fell down, trapping his right arm in the machinery, according to local media reports citing police.

The safety mechanism failed to activate and the travelator only stopped when Hinata’s mother pressed the emergency stop button. It took rescue workers 40 minutes to take apart the lift and free the young child. He fell unconscius while trapped and was later pronounced dead at hospital.

Staff at the ski resort said the safety mechanism was working fine earlier that day.

Police have now launched an investigation into the possibility of professional negligence, for example in the manufacturing and maintenance of the travelator.

The lift, installed roughly six years ago according to the BBC, has no hand rails and connects the car park to the ski slopes.

Other visitors said they also stumbled while trying to use the machine, according to local media.

One skiier told Asahi Shimbun: “Even as an adult, there are times when I think, ‘It’s a little scary’.”

A spokesperson for Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort apologised for the incident and said they will take action to stop it from happening again.