Hero Worker Throws Himself Over Children As Chairlift Structure Collapses In Seconds In Horrifying CCTV

Terrifying security footage has captured the moment a large blue chairlift-style structure suddenly collapsed, sending a huge cloud of dust and debris towards families sitting just metres away.

Security-camera footage circulating online captures the moment the structure gave way around 17:38–17:40 local time, sending chairs and passengers falling 4–7 meters onto the ground and into a small lake below.

The video shows people standing and sitting near the station just before the break. A large blue metal framework suddenly buckles, producing a cloud of dust and debris. In the seconds that follow, a worker can be seen pulling another person clear and shielding children as the chairs drop. Emergency services later reported that 23 people were on the 660-meter lift at the time; 13 were evacuated from remaining chairs while others fell. Four people suffered injuries of varying severity; one woman was seriously hurt, and several more sought outpatient treatment at Nalchik hospitals. No fatalities were reported in the immediate aftermath.

The lift, operated by Excursion Complex “Zhemchuzhina” LLC, was built in 1968 and had never undergone a major overhaul. Tourists had complained for years about rust, creaking, and unstable seats, yet the company continued to sell 500-ruble tickets. Investigators determined the break resulted from destruction of the station hub. The operator had previously been fined under administrative industrial-safety rules after a Rostechnadzor inspection, but those warnings were not heeded.

The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case the same day under the article covering provision of unsafe services that caused serious bodily harm. The probe found systemic violations in the operation of a hazardous facility. In September 2025, the prosecutor’s office of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic approved an indictment against the head of the passenger cable-chairlift and sent the case to Nalchik City Court. Victims were formally recognized, and the company was held responsible for compensation of harm and moral damages. The trial began in 2026.

The footage and subsequent court filings illustrate how an aging Soviet-era attraction, left without proper maintenance despite repeated complaints and official notices, turned a routine tourist ride into a sudden drop. The case now before the Nalchik court will determine individual criminal liability while civil claims for the injured continue separately.