A woman became stuck overnight in a freezing ski lift gondola at Lake Tahoe, California. The woman, Monica Laso, reportedly spent over 15 hours trapped in the gondola amid the freezing temperatures. While recounting her experience in the gondola, Laso said she kept herself warm by rubbing her arms and feet.
In an interview, Laso said she was on a skiing trip with her friends at Heavenly Ski Resort on Thursday, January 25, 2024. However, she became too tired to go down the hill. Consequently, Laso said she approached a worker who guided her to the gondola.
Unfortunately, she said the gondola stopped at around 5:00 pm, two minutes after she got in, leaving her stranded. “I didn’t have a phone, a light, or anything,” Laso said during the interview. Hence, she could only scream for help whenever she saw an employee below.
However, no one could hear her. “I screamed desperately until I lost my voice,” Laso revealed. After they could not reach her on Thursday, Laso’s friends reported her missing to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office. It wasn’t until the gondola started working again Friday morning that crews realized she had been in it overnight.
ALSO READ: Family of Elderly Woman Killed by Alligator Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Community
According to the LA Times, the South Lake Tahoe Fire and Rescue got a call at around 8:30 am on Friday, January 26. The El Dorado County Sheriff’s office reported a woman suffering from cold exposure at Heavenly Mountain Resort. While South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue did not comment on the incident, a spokesperson did.
Marshal Kim George told CNN, “She was assessed and refused transport; we always recommend transport with every patient.” “The response was to the base of the gondola. This was really the extent of our involvement,” George added.
Similarly, Tom Fortune, vice president and chief operating officer of Heavenly Mountain Resort, commented on the incident. “The safety and well-being of our guests is our top priority at Heavenly Mountain Resort,” he said. “We are investigating this situation with the utmost seriousness,” Fortune added.
ALSO READ: Florida Rep Accuses Biden Administration of Lying About Texas Migrants’ Drowning
According to reports, the resort area had a low temperature of 23 degrees that night. After the employees discovered the woman, firefighters arrived and treated Laso. However, Sallie Ross, a South Lake Tahoe Fire and Rescue spokesperson, said Laso declined to go to a hospital.
“It sounds like she wasn’t injured, but she definitely didn’t have a great night, that’s for sure,” Ross added. In addition, Ross called the incident an anomaly. She also told news outlets that the department “certainly never responded to anything like this” before.
Ross said, “I don’t know how something like that could have happened. It’s very weird.” “She must have felt some kind of terror, really,” She added. “Knowing she’s there all alone and not knowing if someone was going to find her. That must have really been terrifying for her.”
You Might Also Like:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Says War Will Continue “On All Fronts”
Officials Expand Search After Discovering Black Cemetery at Airforce Base
Zelensky Condemns Trump’s Claims About Russia’s War on Ukraine, Says It’s “Very Dangerous”
UAE Urges US To Support Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza Amid Wider Mideast Crisis
Nikki Haley Questions Trump’s Mental Ability After He Confused Her With Nancy Pelosi
