Skier dies on holiday in Japan
A MAN who worked at the Gold Coast Airport was found dead at a holiday resort town in Japan on Sunday.
Japanese media reported the body of 45-year-old David Fitzpatrick was discovered in a creek near the ski resort town of Niseko on the northern island Hokkaido.
A Gold Coast Airport spokeswoman confirmed the man worked at the airport but said he was not an airport employee but worked for a sub-contractor.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman said the man lived in NSW.
"We can confirm the death of a 45-year-old Australian man, from NSW, in Japan," the spokeswoman said.
"Consular staff in Australia is providing assistance to the man's family."
According to Japanese police, Mr Fitzpatrick was on a ski trip with 10 friends and was last seen at the Splash bar on Saturday night about 1am.
Japanese police were searching for Mr Fitzpatrick when the body was recovered from a creek on Sunday afternoon.
The search was sparked when he missed a flight home after staying at a backpackers lodge in Izumikyo 2 for seven days.
