Six of the chairs chairs dropped approximately six metres to the ground and injuring 23 people after the top section of the tower gave way on one side.
Two skiers were taken to hospital with minor chest injuries and at least 21 suffered cuts and bruises and were treated for shock after falling from heights of up to 26 feet. At least another 35 people had to be rescued from chairs on the lift after it ground to a halt in the resort which is situated in the mountains above Granada. Most of the guests on the lift were ski instructors with their clients, and the Sierra Nevada Ski Patrol, Guardia Civil, Local Police and the Emergency Department immediately implemented an emergency lift evacuation procedure.
Recent snowfall had served to cushion the blow and saved many from serious injury. "Fresh snow beneath the lift no doubt cushioned the fall," said Mariano Gutierrez, a spokesman from the Sierra Nevada National Park. The chairlift is built by Doppelmayr and was installed in late 80’s. A world-leader in lift design and manufacturing, Doppelmayr lifts are in operation throughout the world and have a good safety record. The regional government of Andalucia, Guardia Civil, Doppelmayr and Cetursa, the company that manages the ski resort, have opened an investigation into the incident.
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