<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Flags have been flown at half-mast at the former school of a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/melbourne" rel="" target="" title="Melbourne"><span>Melbourne</span></a><span> skier who passed away on the slopes in Japan.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Michael Hurst, 27, was skiing in the back country of Niseko, on the Japanese island of Hokkaido, with several friends when he died of a suspected heart attack on Tuesday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hurst, who grew up in Melbourne's Bayside area, was remembered by his Mentone school St Bede's College, where flags were flown at half-mast today in his honour.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/former-nrl-player-chases-home-intruders/f42b8cf6-9fff-438f-97f7-fa36ccfad3e2" target="_blank"><strong><span>Former NRL player pursues intruders wearing just his undies</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Michael served our community with distinction as college captain in 2016," principal Deb Frizza said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"As a faith community, we unite in prayer, commending Michael to the loving mercy of God and praying for comfort, strength, and peace for his family during this time of profound grief.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We also hold in our prayers our colleagues and community members who knew, taught, and were close to Michael."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/michael-hurst-flags-fly-at-halfmast-for-australian-man-who-died-on-japanese-ski-mountain/8bb842f8-3c52-4642-b418-ef8f8447ed87" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to a translation of a local media report, Hurst went missing while </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/skiing" target="" title="skiing"><span>skiing</span></a><span> with a group of friends between Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort and Niseko Annupuri International Ski Resort in Niseko, Hokkaido.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/measles-circulating-undetected-in-adelaide-sa-health-warns/1d12adaa-415c-49df-9f41-2d630a67332b" target="_blank"><strong><span>Measles circulating undetected in Adelaide after new case</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police joined the search and found him being given CPR by a group of four.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Emergency services rushed the man, who had no visible injuries, to hospital where he later died.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to his LinkedIn profile, the town planner was taking a "career break" in Japan over the 2025-26 ski season, where he was working at a ski resort.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said authorities were providing consular assistance to the family.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time," a spokesperson said in a statement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hurst was the second Australian to die on the slopes in Japan in just a matter of days, after </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/australian-woman-dies-ski-lift-accident-japan/026d112b-f318-4c02-b587-4e189b284b6c" rel="" target="" title="22-year-old Sunshine Coast woman Brooke Day"><span>22-year-old Sunshine Coast woman Brooke Day</span></a><span> was killed in a ski lift accident at a resort near Hakuba.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div 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