CAMDEN – An accident involving two young boys at the Camden Snow Bowl Feb. 24 is a reminder to skiers that safety practices are not to be taken lightly, ever. One 9-year-old boy is at Maine Medical Center in Portland after he slipped off the double chairlift and fell 20 feet, landing on his side on the ground.

The boys, one nine, the other six years old, had just loaded onto the lift around 3 p.m., participating in one of the Snow Bowl’s ski school program.

The boys apparently began horsing around in the chair, and although the restraining safety bar was down and in place, the older boy started to slide out beneath it. Neither of the boys were carrying poles with them.

He attempted to hang on, and managed to kick off one ski, but unable to keep his grasp on the chair itself, he fell down to the ground below, between Tower I and Tower II. Landing on his side, the boy reportedly suffered possible hip and head injuries.

The parent of the six-year-old on the chair ran up the hill to assist the injured boy, as did the Snow Bowl’s ski school director and several Ragged Mountain Ski Patrol personnel.

They quickly loaded the injured boy onto a rescue toboggan and transported him to the bottom of the mountain where a North East Mobile Health ambulance had arrived.

According to Camden Snow Bowl Director Beth Ward, the two boys had been instructed about ski lift safety protocol all week in class. She is reminding everyone who uses the lifts to follow posted and verbal safety rules and act responsibly.

“When anyone gets on the lift, be careful, sit sit and be mindful,” she said. “You’re on a aerial chair, in cold weather.”

The boys were wearing helmets, she said.

North East Mobile Health Services transported the injured boy to Pen Bay Medical Center. Later in the evening, he was reportedly transferred to Maine Medical Center, in Portland.

Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657