Anchor Failure: Alicia's Harrowing Ski Lift Accident
Suddenly, the anchor detached from the ski lift's cable. Alicia Köhalmi, 18, crashed uncontrollably into two trees, breaking her arm and suffering a brain hemorrhage.
During the winter break, the Köhalmi family from Eslöv was on a ski vacation in Säfsen, southern Dalarna.
On the second day, Alicia, then 17, and her younger brother Anton got up earlier than the others and took a few runs. They later met up with their father Kenneth, mother Emma, and Alicia's boyfriend Elias Lundgren.
"We got in the lift. Then I remember nothing until I woke up in the hospital," says Alicia.
Anchor Failure: Alicia Crashed
The incident occurred when the anchor that Alicia and her mother Emma were using detached from the lift's cable as they reached a steeper part of the slope.
Emma fell forward to the ground with the anchor in hand. Alicia slid uncontrollably backward and crashed into two trees.
Kenneth Köhalmi didn't see it happen, but moments later, he saw his daughter lying at the edge of the forest while hearing his wife scream.
"Alicia looked in our direction with wide-open eyes. My first thought was: 'She is probably dead,'" he says.
After a minute, Alicia responded to calls.
"She was in a panic and screamed in pain," says Kenneth.
Suffered Brain Hemorrhage
Alicia was airlifted to Falu Hospital. Doctors confirmed she had two brain hemorrhages.
"I didn't understand why I was there. Since I didn't remember anything, it felt unreal. My short-term memory was severely damaged," she says.
She also broke her collarbone and upper arm bone. Initially, after returning home, she was completely helpless.
"I needed constant help at home: to walk, eat, shower, and get out of bed."
She also became very tired and needed a lot of sleep, but through hard work, she managed to catch up on all her schoolwork and will be able to start her final year after the summer break.
Her arm is still not fully recovered. The elbow is held together by two plates with twelve screws, and she has a long, tender scar from the triceps down to the forearm.
"I can't fully straighten my arm. I also don't have the same strength in my arm as before."
Criminal Investigation Dropped
An investigation into causing bodily harm was initiated but dropped, citing insufficient evidence to prove the suspects were guilty. The family requested a review of the decision but was denied.
"I hoped Sweden's legal system could provide some form of justice. When they dropped it, I was devastated. Is it my responsibility that their lift didn't hold?" says Alicia.
She is also disappointed with how Säfsen Resort handled the accident.
"They could have at least reached out, knowing how serious it was."
"We Acknowledge the Criticism"
Alicia is an experienced skier and previously enjoyed skiing on black slopes. Now she feels scared.
"I don't want to ski—either in the lift or on the slope. That's how I feel now. If it happened once, it could just as easily happen again."
Christoffer Tilstam, marketing and sales manager at Säfsen Resort, writes in an email that the company follows all laws and industry guidelines from the Swedish Ski Area Association:
"The accident that affected Alicia is very unfortunate, but there is no indication of anything other than a pure accident. We will continue our safety work to comply with the laws, regulations, and advice applicable to lift operations in Sweden."
He later states that the liability investigation with Dalarnas Insurance Company is ongoing and that they have been in contact with Alicia and her family on July 4.
"We have apologized for how our contact and communication after the accident have failed."