New details have emerged about a young Australian woman who died in Japan after getting caught in a ski lift at a popular snow resort west of Tokyo.

Sunshine Coast woman Brooke Day, 22, was at the Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Otari, Nagano Prefecture, when she took the ski lift and became caught about 9am on Friday.

The resort’s operator Tsugaike Gondola Lift Co. said Day, who had been working in Japan, had been involved in an accident on a lift when a “buckle at the end of an unfastened waist belt attached to a backpack carried by a customer became caught in the lift carriage”.

“Since the chest strap was fastened, the backpack remained attached to the body,” the company said in a statement.

“After disembarking the lift, the customer was dragged along with the backpack. Subsequently, staff pressed the stop button to halt the lift. Prompt rescue efforts were carried out, and the customer was transported by ambulance.”

The woman was taken to hospital in cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead shortly after, according to the resort.

Day’s parents have left their home in Queensland headed for Japan to be with their daughter.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and sincerely pray for the peace of the departed,” Tsugaike Mountain Resort president and representative director Tsuneo Kubo said in a statement on Saturday.

“Our company will respond with sincerity and dedication to the bereaved family and the deceased guest.

“We will continue to fully co-operate with the police and relevant authorities in their investigation.”

Kubo said the resort will strengthen safety management and prevent recurrence by implementing “concrete measures, including thorough awareness campaigns regarding the handling of equipment and enhanced safety monitoring systems for lift operations”.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed 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. Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment,” DFAT said.