An 18-year-old skier flew to a Boston hospital after being seriously injured in an accident at the Nashoba Valley ski area in Westford, Massachusetts, firefighters said.
According to the Westford fire department, the victim was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center by medical helicopter at around 1:15 PM on Sunday.
The young man was skiing with his family when he collided with a building outside the trail near the bottom of the Nashoba Slope, which is rated with a blue square meaning ‘more difficult,’ the ski resort said in a statement.
Al Fletcher, with Nashoba Valley, told NBC10 Boston that at one point the teen lost control, was thrown off his skis, and then slid under the building.
According to the Nashoba Valley statement, bystanders provided immediate assistance and Ski Patrol arrived on the scene a few minutes later, followed shortly after by EMS.
Westford Fire, Ski Patrol and Boston MedFlight did respond to the ski area, located at 79 Powers Road, where the victim was trapped under a building, firefighters said. The teenager was freed and seriously injured, according to the Westford fire department.
Skiers who witnessed the collision told NBC10 Boston that the teen came down the hill very quickly and didn’t stop before crashing into the barn-like structure.
“He came down very quickly, I saw him just as he fell,” said Angelo Cruz, who was down the slope with his daughter.
Cruz tells NBC10 Boston that he tried to help the teen but couldn’t because he was under the shed.
“His head was in the deck and he didn’t move,” Cruz said.
Fletcher says the teen suffered cuts to the face and some sort of head injury. Nashoba Valley said in their statement that he was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
It is not clear why the skier did not stop, or how he lost control.
[He] just came down the hill and without stopping or anything just went in, ”said eyewitness Amy Carta.
Carta says Nashoba Slope is quite steep and it can get tricky for skiers.
“I would definitely consider it more of an intermediate, it’s pretty steep here for a blue in my opinion, my guys are beginners and it can get a little tricky in the mid section until you get down here.”
The ski resort called it a “serious” incident and said they wanted the public to hear from them, although they urged people not to speculate about the victim’s condition.
“Out of concern for the young man and his family, we ask you not to speculate and to preserve him, his family, the Nashoba staff and the first responders who attended to your prayers,” the ski resort statement continued. .
There was no update on the teen’s condition as of 7:15 p.m. Sunday.
The incident is being investigated by local and state police, as well as Nashoba Valley Ski Area personnel.