Monica Laso: Woman reported missing found trapped for 15 hours on gondola lift at ski resort in Lake Tahoe
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA: A woman, reported missing by her friends, was trapped overnight in a suspended gondola as her calls for help went unheard. She was discovered the next day when the gondola started working again.
Monica Laso, while snowboarding with friends at the Heavenly Ski Resort in South Lake Tahoe, California, found herself separated from her group on the evening of January 26.
She shared her harrowing experience with local news station KCRA.
Monica Laso was stuck for 15 hours on gondola lift
The snowboarder on a trip at Lake Tahoe's Heavenly Ski Resort, found herself stuck in a ski lift gondola for 15 hours overnight amidst chilling temperatures.
She had opted to take the gondola down the mountain around 5 pm, as she was too fatigued to continue snowboarding.
However, the gondola unexpectedly stopped just minutes later, leaving her suspended in the air.
Despite her desperate calls for help, no one on the ground could hear her. To make matters worse, she didn't have her cell phone with her to call for help.
"I screamed desperately until I lost my voice," she stated to the outlet in Spanish.
Meanwhile, her friends waiting at the base grew concerned and eventually alerted the county sheriff about her disappearance.
It wasn't until the following morning, when the gondola resumed operation and brought Laso back to the base, that they understood what had transpired.
Is Monica Laso OK?
Throughout the night, Laso kept herself warm by rubbing her hands and feet together as the temperature plummeted to a chilling 23 degrees, as reported by the National Weather Service.
The ski resort, situated on the southeastern edge of the lake near the California-Nevada border, is conducting a serious investigation into how Laso ended up trapped.
Kim George, a battalion chief and spokesperson for South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue, informed The Associated Press that paramedics were summoned by sheriff's deputies around 8.30 am on Friday following the discovery of Laso.
According to George, Laso was conscious and alert, and she chose not to be taken to the hospital.
Internet calls the event 'crazy'
The internet has responded to the dreadful news by labeling the event as "insane."
A Facebook user wrote, "That’s crazy. I’m glad she’s ok."
"I have a feeling she's not going to go again," said another.
One person remarked, "What in The Wide World Of Sports is going on over there? One of the Workers or Managers should have noticed something."
"Wow. What a nightmare scenario…no phone, no water, no bathroom, no food, and no blanket. Miserable but glad she’s safe!" stated another.
"Good thing it didn't end like the movie Frozen. So glad she is alright," claimed another.
"Like the horror movie " Frozen " mentioned one person.
One person shared, "Omg! Theres a horror movie on TUBI about that!!! Glad.she is ok!"
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
