This shocking incident occurred when a chairlift at a Russian resort collapsed, sending four passengers hurtling into a lake below.
As a result of this terrifying ride, six additional individuals suffered injuries from falling to the ground, while 13 others were left hanging in the air.
Authorities provided medical assistance to a dozen tourists in Nalchik, located in the mountainous Kabardino-Balkaria region.
Reports indicate that one person’s condition is critical.
Disturbing footage captures the chairs abruptly jolting and then dropping several feet as they travel along the line above the resort.
Riders’ screams are heard as they plummet into trees, hit the ground, and end up in the 22-foot deep Lake Trek.
Other passengers were left stranded in midair still strapped into their chairs.
Thirteen people had to be “evacuated” by the emergency services in the end.
A child was among those hurt in the chairlift collapse.
A major rescue operation was also put in place to rescue those who had collapsed on the ground and take them to hospital.
A regional health ministry spokesman confirmed one patient is in serious condition in an intensive care unit.
The Health Ministry said in a statement to TASS that they were alerted to the collapse at around 5:45pm local time.
The organisation said: “Russia’s Emergencies Ministry’s rescuers and all the emergency services were immediately dispatched to the site.”
They confirmed that 21 people were on a chairlift when the collapse took place.
The chairlift – to a local scenic viewing point – was originally built in 1968.
A preliminary investigation into the cause of the accident says wear and tear of the cables is considered as the main reason.
According to local media, there had been several complaints about the state of the cable car.
Tourists had even described it as “rusty” and “old”.
A criminal case has been opened into the incident.
It follows another terrifying ski lift accident in Spain earlier this year.
A schoolgirl was among the 30 skiers who were injured in the horror ordeal that saw riders flung 50ft from their chairs.
The incident occurred at Astun Ski Resort in the heart of the Aragon Valley in north-eastern Spain, leaving an 11-year-old among the wounded.
