THIS is the horrifying moment a chairlift collapses at a Russian resort with four passenger sent plunging into a lake below.
The ride from hell saw six more people injured after falling to the ground as another 13 others were left dangling in the air.
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A dozen tourists needed treatment from officials in Nalchik after the mountainous Kabardino-Balkaria region.
One is reportedly in a serious condition.
Concerning footage shows how the chairs suddenly jolt before dropping several feet as they pass along the line above the resort.
Riders can be heard screaming as they crash down to the ground and land in trees, on the road and in the 22ft 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.
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