Horror as ski lift 'collapses' in Spain, injuring at least 15 people

18 January 2025, 13:03 | Updated: 18 January 2025, 20:13

One of the people on board a ski lift which collapsed in Spain, injuring dozens of people, has told LBC News it felt like they were "in freefall".

The incident took place in the Astun ski resort on the northern border with France, in the Pyrenees mountain range.

The resort said around 15 people were hurt, 3 of them seriously, and everyone stuck on the lift had been evacuated within two-and-a-half hours.

Earlier reports suggested 30 people had been injured.

Several helicopters and fire engines were sent to the site to help with the victims.

It is unclear what caused the collapse.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that he was "shocked by the news of the accident".

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"All our affection to the injured and their families," he added.

Jaime Pelegi, who’s from Madrid and is commercial director at Spotify, was on the chairlift as it collapsed.

Speaking to David Domb on LBC News he said: "This weekend we came to the resort of Astun and this morning we were skiing as normal. It was an astonishing day of skiing, very sunny, cold. And we took, I think four or five skillets before the accident happens.

"And at the moment of the accident, we just took the ski lift at some point and very suddenly it started to drop like (it was) in freefall. I was fortunately at the beginning of the ski lift so it was still climbing and still going.

"That was the reason why we're safe and have no injuries. But we completely dropped, we fell until we reached the snow

"(My wife and I) could free ourselves because the distance was not that high, we could remove ourselves and try to escape and help each other then help the others in the next chairs".