PR professional Victoria Bond set out on what should have been the trip of a lifetime, but tragically her adventure turned into a nightmare after she and other hikers became stuck in a freak snowstorm.
A hiker who survived the storm that killed Victoria Bond has spoken out about her final moments as the treacherous snowstorm raged all around them.
The 40-year-old PR professional, who previously worked for stars including Peaky Blinders’ Cheryl Tweedy and Annabelle Wallis, was trekking through Patagonia, Chile, when the disaster struck.
While traversing the Torres del Paine Nature Reserve, the adventurous group was caught in a fierce 200-kilometer-per-hour snowstorm, the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane. As they desperately battled the fierce winds and heavy rain, nine tourists initially went missing. Unfortunately, five members of the group, two Mexicans, two Germans and Victoria, did not survive.
Fellow hiker and friend Chris Aldridge, who was with Victoria when the disaster unfolded, has since told of her final moments, and how he had believed everyone would die as he slid down the mountain at unstoppable speeds.
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In an interview with the Email online, Experienced hiker Chris recalled that although they knew there would be wind on the icy peaks, they had no idea how bad the situation would become and it became truly treacherous on the way back from their climb.
Chris recalled: “Some people were sliding down the mountain. It was freezing, really treacherous, [with] really strong wind. People couldn’t see in front or behind [themselves]He continued, “It was quite terrifying. Once I slid down the mountain at very high speed and I couldn’t stop. It was just ice.”
When they returned to camp, it was clear that some members of the group had suffered serious injuries. According to Chris, “It was still very windy and everyone was almost hypothermic. Many people with frostbite and other superficial injuries.”
Unfortunately, at this point they also realized that not everyone was back in camp. Park rangers, who had returned to their hometown to vote in the general election, was not there to help, and so the courageous group took it upon themselves to go out and rescue the missing. Unfortunately it was too late for Victoria.
CONAF, the body responsible for Chile’s national parks, issued the following statement: “We deeply regret this tragedy and express our solidarity with the families of the deceased and with all those who have experienced very difficult times in the Torres del Paine National Park. Following this tragedy, CONAF, together with the concessionaires, will review the security and communication protocols in the park’s circuits, with the aim of strengthening capacity in prevention and emergency response.”
A spokesperson for Visit Isles of Scilly, where Victoria had worked in PR, also released a statement sharing that they were “deeply saddened” by the death of their “beloved” friend. They said: “On the trip of a lifetime to explore Argentina and Chile and go hiking with friends, her group was caught in a freak snowstorm and high winds in Chilean Patagonia.
Shedding light on Victoria’s charismatic personality, the statement continued: “She was always full of charisma and charm and had a wonderful passion for life and Scilly. Her ‘can-do’, ‘never-say-no’ attitude and infectious laugh were adored by all who knew her. She will be missed beyond words, and we are only now beginning to come to terms with her untimely passing.”
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