A professional U.S. snowboarder died early Sunday after falling from a spiral stairway at a hotel in the village of Kijimadaira, Nagano Prefecture, where he was staying, police said.
Jeffrey Anderson, 23, was sliding down the banister of the stairs from the fifth floor but lost his balance as he reached the fourth floor.
He fell about 15 meters and hit his head when he landed on the first floor, according to the police. Anderson was rushed to a hospital but soon pronounced dead.
Anderson arrived in Japan on Thursday to participate in a snowboarding competition held at the Kijimadaira ski ground.