A young New Zealand woman who loved adventure was one of two Kiwi tourists killed in an avalanche while skiing on a dormant Japanese volcano.
Isabella Bolton, 21, died when she was buried under snow after a slope collapsed on Mount Yotei, near Hokkaido in northern Japan, on Monday.
Local firefighters rushed to the scene around 11am after an alarm was raised that three members of a group of six visitors to the mountain were trapped under snow.
Ms Bolton and the unnamed male tourist in his 30s were found unresponsive at the scene.
A young woman was among two tourists who died in an avalanche on Mount Yotei (pictured) in Japan on Monday
They are believed to have gone into cardiac arrest when they were trapped under snow, according to the snow sports website Snow brains.
The couple were taken to the hospital from the part of the inactive volcano where they were stranded, but they could not be saved.
The third New Zealander who was among the group of backcountry skiers suffered a shoulder injury and is being treated in hospital.
The devastated family of Ms Bolton issued a statement confirming her death, saying the energetic adventurer was ‘full of life’.
“It is with a heavy heart that we confirm the death of our beloved Isabella Bolton, 21, in an avalanche accident in Hokkaido, Japan,” they said. New Zealand Herald.
‘Isabella was full of vitality and passion for life. Her sense of adventure and love of skiing and the outdoors led her to study for a diploma in Outdoor Adventure Guiding in Banff, Canada.’
Her family said Ms Bolton was born in Watford, north of London and grew up in Diamond Harbor and Healthcote Valley, south of Christchurch, in New Zealand.
She attended nearby Rangi Ruru Girls High School before pursuing higher education opportunities abroad.
Ms Bolton is believed to have traveled to Japan several months ago and was working in the country, according to a post uploaded to Facebook by her mother Jane Broughton.
Isabella Bolton (pictured) was killed after she was buried under the mountain’s snow while skiing at the scenic destination
A spokesperson for New Zealand’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told Daily Mail Australia they have been made aware of the incident.
“The New Zealand embassy has offered consular support to the families of those involved,” the spokesman said.
‘A third New Zealander in the group was also injured. The embassy has spoken to them and offered consular support’.
Social media users expressed their condolences following Bolton’s death.
‘Heartbreaking. So very sad,’ one user wrote.
“What a beautiful, vivacious young girl, I’m so sorry her family is going through this,” said another user.
Emergency services (pictured) rushed to the scene before the pair were flown to hospital
Meteorologists had not issued an avalanche warning at the time of the incident and it was not snowing heavily on the mountain, according to Japan Times.
There was an estimated snowfall of five to ten centimeters during a period of 48 hours leading up to the accident.
The avalanche is believed to have taken place at an altitude between 650-700 metres. from the foot of the mountain.
Japanese authorities including the police and fire department are still investigating the incident.
Located at Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Mount Yotei is one of the most famous mountains in Hokkaido.
Standing at a height of 1898m, the mountain is a popular tourist destination and visitors visit the site to participate in a variety of skiing and outdoor activities.