Victoria Bond, a PR professional, and other hikers got trapped in a freak blizzard, making it what should have been a lifetime adventure. Tragically, this adventure turned into a nightmare.
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Victoria Bond, who formerly worked for Cheryl Cole, has been confirmed dead.
A hiker who survived the terrifying blizzard that toppled Victoria Bond has spoken about her final moments.
The 40-year-old PR professional, who previously worked for stars like Cheryl Cole and Annabelle Wallis from Peaky Blinders, was traveling across Patagonia, Chile, when disaster struck.
While crossing the Torres del Paine nature reserve, the adventurous group found themselves caught in a fierce 120mph snowstorm, the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane. As they desperately battled the ferocious winds and heavy rainfall, nine tourists initially went missing. Sadly, five members of the group, two Mexicans, two Germans and Victoria, didn’t survive.
When the tragedy struck, fellow hiker and friend Chris Aldridge, who was with Victoria at the time, has since explained how he had predicted that everyone would perish as he slid down the mountain at unstoppable speeds.
READ MORE: Chilling five words of Brit survivor of blizzard which killed Victoria Bond
Experienced hiker Chris mentioned in an interview with the Mail Online that despite knowing there would be winds up on the icy peaks, things would turn out to be very difficult to climb.
Some people slid down the mountain, Chris said. It was extremely icy, [with] very strong winds. In front of [they] couldn’t be seen, either behind or in front. He continued, “It was pretty terrifying. Once, I slid down the mountain at a very fast rate without stopping. It was simply sheet ice.
When they returned to camp, it was obvious that some of the group’s members had suffered serious injuries. Everyone was eying hypothermia, according to Chris, who said it was still very windy. Numerous people suffer from frostbite and other minor wounds.
Sadly, it was also at this point that they realised that not everybody had made it back to camp. Park rangers, who’d returned to their hometowns to vote in the general election, weren’t around to assist, and so the courageous group took it upon themselves to head out and rescue the missing. Sadly, it was too late for Victoria.
The organization in charge of Chile’s national parks, CONAF, has issued the following statement: “We deeply regret this tragedy and send our condolences to the families of the deceased and to all those who have gone through very difficult times in Torres del Paine National Park. In order to improve preventative and emergency response capacity in the park’s circuits, CONAF will work with the concessionaires to update the safety and communication protocols in the park’s circuits.
A spokesperson for Visit Isles of Scilly, where Victoria had worked in PR, also released a statement, sharing they had been “deeply saddened” by the death of their “much-loved” friend. They said: “Whilst on a trip of a lifetime to explore and go hiking with friends in Argentina and Chile, her group were caught in a freak severe snowstorm and high winds in Chilean Patagonia.
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The statement continued, “She was always full of charisma, charm, and had an amazing passion for life and Scilly,” adding to light on Victoria’s charismatic personality. Everyone who knew her adored her for her can-do, never-say-no attitude, and infectious laugh. We are only just beginning to process her untimely passing, and she will be missed beyond words.
Do you have a tale to tell? Contact me at julia@gmail.com. banim@reachplc.com
READ MORE: Met Office issues ice warnings and advice to Brits – four things you need to do now
Scott Da Silva-Wells, a stylist-to-the-stars, shares his insider secrets for styling Lorraine on ITV.
We may link to affiliate links in this article, but we will make money off of any purchases we make. more information
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Scott’s styling tips for dressing presenters(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Lorraine, an ITV show, is known for providing outfit suggestions to viewers through its fashion advice. The presenters are known for their fashionable looks, which viewers are eager to adopt for themselves, but it’s not just the models that are the source of inspiration. They also look good in their best attire, whether it’s Christine Lampard, Ranvir Singh, or Lorraine Kelly herself.
Lucie Cave, the entertainment editor on the show, shares her opinions and views on television, movies, and other hot topics, as well as being a regular presenter.
I’ve been wearing Lucie for almost two years, and I’m sharing all of his styling secrets for flattering outfits. I always prefer to work with clients because they have unique tastes and personal preferences, and I can then use my skills to give them the best possible look and feel.
You can use these tips from my stylist-approved methods for yourself…
Try making your pants angular.
READ MORE: The price of Stacey Solomon’s “pretty” Abbott Lyon watch has decreased.
For instance, I always advise choosing a high-waisted style because it works best to lengthen a person’s silhouette, especially for petite body types, when it comes to pants or denim.
One of my go-to brands for this style is River Island, as they always fit well and have a variety of designs and colours. These Blue Denim High Rise Relaxed Flare Jeans, which cost £52, are an excellent choice. The shade of blue makes them easy to dress up or down with a change of footwear, but most importantly, they come with a slight flare to the hem, which works to balance out the wearer’s figure.
Find lengths of skirts that flatter you.
Next up, skirts. When shopping, it’s important to consider the length of the skirt. I would suggest choosing a hem that is just above the knee if you are petite because it won’t hurt you too much. I would prefer a midi-length leg, which highlights the shape and length of the legs, whereas tall people would lean more.
To incorporate your personality into your outfit, a fun print is always a good idea. This New Look Brown Brushed Check Mini Skirt costs only £2.49, making it one of your favorite pieces. It perfectly captures the fall-winter season.
Choose tailoring
Tailoring is always a fantastic and simple fashion that will instantly transform you into a smart, prepared person. You’ll always earn serious style points, whether you layer over a shirt or plain t-shirt with a chic skirt and blazer combo, or just a blazer like an ASOS DESIGN Sculpt Cinch Waist Blazer in Mocha, which costs £65.
This M&, S £50 Disc Embellished Mini A-Line Skirt is a must-have piece of wardrobe, whether worn with a sequin blouse or a cream roll neck jumper. Add the corresponding £64 Embellished Single Breasted Blazer to complete the ensemble for a perfect, cohesive ensemble.
utilize the little lifts
Continue reading the article.
Lastly, footwear. In my opinion, boots are always a good idea to give you a small lift in height and add confidence to an outfit. Get yourself a sleek pair that can be repeatedly re-worn for countless occasions ,from a day in the office, cocktails with the girls, or a smart-casual party.
Scott Da Silva-Wells, a stylist-to-the-stars, shares his insider secrets for styling Lorraine on ITV.
We may link to affiliate links in this article, but we will make money off of any purchases we make. more information
5 images to be viewed
Scott’s styling tips for dressing presenters(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Lorraine, an ITV show, is known for providing outfit suggestions to viewers through its fashion advice. The presenters are known for their fashionable looks, which viewers are eager to adopt for themselves, but it’s not just the models that are the source of inspiration. They also look good in their best attire, whether it’s Christine Lampard, Ranvir Singh, or Lorraine Kelly herself.
Lucie Cave, the entertainment editor on the show, shares her opinions and views on television, movies, and other hot topics, as well as being a regular presenter.
I’ve been wearing Lucie for almost two years, and I’m sharing all of his styling secrets for flattering outfits. I always prefer to work with clients because they have unique tastes and personal preferences, and I can then use my skills to give them the best possible look and feel.
You can use these tips from my stylist-approved methods for yourself…
Try making your pants angular.
READ MORE: The price of Stacey Solomon’s “pretty” Abbott Lyon watch has decreased.
For instance, I always advise choosing a high-waisted style because it works best to lengthen a person’s silhouette, especially for petite body types, when it comes to pants or denim.
One of my go-to brands for this style is River Island, as they always fit well and have a variety of designs and colours. These Blue Denim High Rise Relaxed Flare Jeans, which cost £52, are an excellent choice. The shade of blue makes them easy to dress up or down with a change of footwear, but most importantly, they come with a slight flare to the hem, which works to balance out the wearer’s figure.
Find lengths of skirts that flatter you.
Next up, skirts. When shopping, it’s important to consider the length of the skirt. I would suggest choosing a hem that is just above the knee if you are petite because it won’t hurt you too much. I would prefer a midi-length leg, which highlights the shape and length of the legs, whereas tall people would lean more.
To incorporate your personality into your outfit, a fun print is always a good idea. This New Look Brown Brushed Check Mini Skirt costs only £2.49, making it one of your favorite pieces. It perfectly captures the fall-winter season.
Choose tailoring
Tailoring is always a fantastic and simple fashion that will instantly transform you into a smart, prepared person. You’ll always earn serious style points, whether you layer over a shirt or plain t-shirt with a chic skirt and blazer combo, or just a blazer like an ASOS DESIGN Sculpt Cinch Waist Blazer in Mocha, which costs £65.
This M&, S £50 Disc Embellished Mini A-Line Skirt is a must-have piece of wardrobe, whether worn with a sequin blouse or a cream roll neck jumper. Add the corresponding £64 Embellished Single Breasted Blazer to complete the ensemble for a perfect, cohesive ensemble.
utilize the little lifts
Continue reading the article.
Lastly, footwear. In my opinion, boots are always a good idea to give you a small lift in height and add confidence to an outfit. Get yourself a sleek pair that can be repeatedly re-worn for countless occasions ,from a day in the office, cocktails with the girls, or a smart-casual party.
Get Me Out of Here Because I’m A Celebrity! Following a “traumatic” tour, singer-songwriter Martin Kemp discovered himself supporting wife Shirlie while she was performing for the pop group Wham!
3 images to be seen
Martin Kemp supported wife Shirlie after a ‘traumtic’ trip away with Wham! (Image: Getty Images)
Martin Kemp’s wife Shirlie has opened up about a “traumatic” trip to China that left her needing therapy and a holiday in Florida. The singer, who performed as a backing vocalist for Wham! in Beijing and Guangzhou in 1985, described the visit as “the most shocking experience”.
The performances were a landmark moment for China, marking the first time a Western pop band had played in the country. However, Shirlie was deeply affected by the sight of the Great Wall of China, known as “the longest cemetery on Earth” due to the hundreds of thousands of lives lost during its construction.
Shirlie said, “Everything just upset me in a way, I thought, “Who built this wall?” in a conversation with Travel Secrets The Podcast. Building’s loss of lives was a culture that I was deeply saddened by.
Martin explained that as soon as he started paying for his wife’s therapy, the costs of the trip “mounted up.” He continued, “It cost me a lot in therapy when Shirlie returned from China.” The truth is that.
Shirlie continued, claiming that “something else that was quite traumatic” transpired during the trip, prompting her to demand that she go back. She said, “Martin, take me to Florida, I need to go somewhere brand-new.”
The trip to Florida was not just the therapy, according to Martin, but it was also. Everything was “mountaining up.”
Following Shirlie’s return to the country, the duo headed to America to attend a tennis camp. After spending ten days traveling with George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, she claims it helped her “reset” to normal life.
Wham! captured the historic visit. In China: Foreign Skies, George revealed that the Chinese Minister for Culture had issued a warning to fans to avoid imitating his provocative dance moves.
He continued, “He basically advised the youth that were present to attend the concert and watch it but not learn from it,” which he claimed was utterly absurd.
One of the group’s traveling guests, one of their backing musicians, was the subject of a disturbing incident. Portuguese trumpeter Raul D’Oliveira allegedly had a psychotic episode while Helen “Pepsi” DeMacque and Shirlie stood screamlessly in their path to their second performance.
Continue reading the article.
According to authorities, he then allegedly forced his way into the cockpit before being restrained by the pilot, who then performed an emergency nosedive. Support vocalist Janet Mooney said in an interview with the Independent: “It was very traumatic for all of us, mostly because we had to land a few times in bad weather, and that wasn’t great, and of course something not very nice was happening to a friend of ours.”
Shirlie reveals she hasn’t been back to China since Wham! ‘s groundbreaking tour. Martin is currently in Australia taking part in I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
Get Me Out of Here Because I’m A Celebrity! Following a “traumatic” tour, singer-songwriter Martin Kemp discovered himself supporting wife Shirlie while she was performing for the pop group Wham!
3 images to be seen
Martin Kemp supported wife Shirlie after a ‘traumtic’ trip away with Wham! (Image: Getty Images)
Martin Kemp’s wife Shirlie has opened up about a “traumatic” trip to China that left her needing therapy and a holiday in Florida. The singer, who performed as a backing vocalist for Wham! in Beijing and Guangzhou in 1985, described the visit as “the most shocking experience”.
The performances were a landmark moment for China, marking the first time a Western pop band had played in the country. However, Shirlie was deeply affected by the sight of the Great Wall of China, known as “the longest cemetery on Earth” due to the hundreds of thousands of lives lost during its construction.
Shirlie said, “Everything just upset me in a way, I thought, “Who built this wall?” in a conversation with Travel Secrets The Podcast. Building’s loss of lives was a culture that I was deeply saddened by.
Martin explained that as soon as he started paying for his wife’s therapy, the costs of the trip “mounted up.” He continued, “It cost me a lot in therapy when Shirlie returned from China.” The truth is that.
Shirlie continued, claiming that “something else that was quite traumatic” transpired during the trip, prompting her to demand that she go back. She said, “Martin, take me to Florida, I need to go somewhere brand-new.”
The trip to Florida was not just the therapy, according to Martin, but it was also. Everything was “mountaining up.”
Following Shirlie’s return to the country, the duo headed to America to attend a tennis camp. After spending ten days traveling with George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, she claims it helped her “reset” to normal life.
Wham! captured the historic visit. In China: Foreign Skies, George revealed that the Chinese Minister for Culture had issued a warning to fans to avoid imitating his provocative dance moves.
He continued, “He basically advised the youth that were present to attend the concert and watch it but not learn from it,” which he claimed was utterly absurd.
One of the group’s traveling guests, one of their backing musicians, was the subject of a disturbing incident. Portuguese trumpeter Raul D’Oliveira allegedly had a psychotic episode while Helen “Pepsi” DeMacque and Shirlie stood screamlessly in their path to their second performance.
Continue reading the article.
According to authorities, he then allegedly forced his way into the cockpit before being restrained by the pilot, who then performed an emergency nosedive. Support vocalist Janet Mooney said in an interview with the Independent: “It was very traumatic for all of us, mostly because we had to land a few times in bad weather, and that wasn’t great, and of course something not very nice was happening to a friend of ours.”
Shirlie reveals she hasn’t been back to China since Wham! ‘s groundbreaking tour. Martin is currently in Australia taking part in I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
Louis, Kirsty MacColl’s son, remembers his mother on the 25th anniversary of her tragic speedboat death.
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Louis Lillywhite is the son of singer Kirsty MacColl. He is pictured here in his home on the 25th anniversary of her death in a speed boat accident in Mexico(Image: Humphrey Nemar.)
Its annual arrival on the airwaves and in shops is often the first sign of the festive season. But for Louis Lillywhite, the Christmas classic Fairytale of New York holds a more poignant meaning. He was just 14 when his mother, Kirsty MacColl – who dueted on the hit with Pogues singer Shane MacGowan – was killed in a horrific speedboat accident.
Kirsty was run over at high speed off the coast of Mexico on December 18, 2000, after she surfaced from a scuba dive, and died instantly the week before Christmas. She was 41 and at the peak of her career following the release of her acclaimed album, Tropical Brainstorm.
When the speedboat crossed the reef where they had just dived and struck them, Louis and his brother Jamie, both 15, were in the water with their mother. Jamie suffered minor injuries when his oxygen tank was clipped but their beloved mother died instantly after being struck by the boat’s propeller.
A harrowing coroner’s report revealed Kirsty had suffered significant head and chest injuries, nearly severing her left leg and part of her chest. Now as the 25th anniversary of Kirsty’s death approaches, with difficult questions remaining about the circumstances and who was to blame for the tragedy – questions that may now never be answered – Louis has poignantly spoken about his mother with the Daily Express.
READ MORE: Christmas classic Fairytale of New York by The Pogue’s almost didn’t happen
His father, Kirsty’s ex-husband, record producer Steve Lillywhite, has just released a new live version of Fairytale of New York. Now 39, a former restaurant owner living in London, Louis says: “It was such a traumatic thing and a lot of what happened is still a blur to me.
What I can say is that it was incredibly grim. I can’t remember the exact details of that trip to Mexico but I can remember being in the water and thinking, ‘ Where’s Jamie? ‘ I occasionally recall conversations between him and I, but I still recall them. It was and is so graphic. Before they let us out, we could only have spent a short while in the water. I don’t really remember too much. “
After years of holding in his pain, Louis recently underwent therapy, which he says has helped him to better come to terms with the terrible events of that day”. He continues, “You don’t want to talk to a stranger about the worst thing that has ever happened to you when you’re a 14-year-old boy,” he continues. Later on though, in my 20s, I was seeing patterns of behaviour in myself and decided I should try it. Since then, I’ve been receiving a lot of therapy, which has helped.
Apart from trying to come to terms with his mother’s tragic death, Louis says he wanted to conquer his fears around the sea. “I really struggled with swimming or going on boats or diving but I have found therapy very useful for that. I have even been snorkelling again and driven a boat,” he says. “Mum really loved the sea and she would have been gutted if I was missing out on a beautiful thing.”
His father, Steve, 70, picks up the story, revealing that Kirsty had actually wanted to be a marine biologist. When Kirsty’s musician boyfriend, James Knight, called him to tell him what had happened while he was living in New York with his second wife Patricia Galluzzi, who was not in the water with them, was also there.
It shocked me so much. I just thought, ‘ Oh s*** ‘ and was desperate to get to the boys but there were no flights that evening from New York, “he remembers”. I called Island Records owner Chris Blackwell, who gave me a private jet ride down.
“When I went into the hotel room, the boys and James, who was only 26 and closer to their age than mine, were sitting on the bed watching cartoons – no tears, just totally in shock. They have never really spoken to me about what they saw, which is so horrifying to imagine.
When they flew home to London and walked into their family home in Ealing, it really hit home. The Christmas tree was up and there were presents under it, Kirsty says. Walking back into the house in Ealing was hard but we played her music and tried to have a good Christmas”.
In 2023, the Ealing Civic Society erected a green plaque at the house and recording studio that Kirsty and the boys called home. Louis lived nearby and is still alive today. His brother Jamie, a music manager who once managed singer Ellie Goulding, lives in LA with his wife and son.
Louis continues, “It was lovely to return to the house once more to get the green plaque.” It was such a party house back then, music always playing, people coming and going all the time.
“You’d come downstairs for school and there would be Boy George sat at the kitchen table. But the new owners are lovely and have done the old place up really nicely. It is much smarter now than when we lived there.”
After their mother’s death, Louis and Jamie were raised by their mother’s boyfriend James at the Ealing family home and his father Steve. Louis says:” They did it together. We had a good time.
Steve adds:” James is a good bloke and he and Kirsty were so well suited. She found a new partner, which I was pleased to see. I still meet up with him when I am in London and we have spent Christmases together. “
Louis also celebrated his mother’s passing in May 2017 with Jean Newlove, who passed away at the age of 94, after losing his mother. Jean campaigned tirelessly for justice for her daughter”. I was very close to my grandmother, and she was a great inspiration, he claims.
” Losing a parent is one thing but losing a child is another thing entirely and my grandmother was on a mission. It gave her a purpose, and if I had to give the cause more weight, I felt compelled to do so.
The boat that killed Kirsty belonged to the family of wealthy Mexican businessman Guillermo González Nova, the owner of the Comercial Mexicana supermarket chain. José Cen Yam, a 26-year-old Nova employee, claimed he was slowing down the boat.
He was subsequently convicted of culpable homicide and sentenced to just two years and 10 months in prison. He was caught out of jail by evading a meager fine of just £61, which led to claims that he accepted compensation from his employers for the incident.
According to MacColl’s family, witnesses who claimed the boat was driven much faster than the boat’s owner claimed to have been aware of a cover-up have long been a source of contention for MacColl’s family. Their” Justice for Kirsty “campaign suspended their legal action because they had exhausted all viable appeal avenues within the Mexican justice system.
“I believe that [Yam] was the fall guy,” says Louis. “No one was really held accountable for what happened.
And he remains angry, adding: “We spent many years as a family trying to get justice. I think we managed to raise awareness and, if it saved just one person, I am happy about that, but what we would have liked was some accountability. “It was never about money, it was about someone taking responsibility.
They called us “money grabbing,” which only fueled my desire to try harder to hold someone accountable. But we were dealing with the richest man in the most corrupt country..”.
Kirsty was a member of folk music royalty. Born in Croydon, she was the daughter of Ewan MacColl, one of the prominent figures in the folk-revival during the 1960s in the UK, founding England’s first-ever folk music club, The Ballads and Blues Club.
His songs have been covered by countless artists over the years, one of the most successful being Roberta Flack’s rendition of his gorgeous ballad, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.
With a number of hits, including her rendition of Billy Bragg’s song A New England and There’s a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis, as well as collaborations with bands like The Smiths and Simple Minds, Daughter Kirsty became a popular artist in her own right.
But it was her 1987 duet with the late Shane MacGowan on The Pogues ‘ Fairytale of New York, the Christmas number one that never was (it reached number two in the charts) that secured her place in pop music history.
After Steve Lillywhite released the Celtic punks’ album, they requested a Christmas single. Taking the song home to his wife, Kirsty provided some vocals, which The Pogues loved so much they ended up keeping.
Now Steve has come full circle after Warner Bros Music asked him to produce the new live mix version. You can hear all these Scots shouting “Kirsty, Kirsty, Kirsty,” which I kept in because they loved her up there with her name and red hair, at Barrowland in Glasgow.
” Although I have never produced a Christmas number one I am not sure I want this version to go to number one. It’s about two losers, and since it’s an underdog song, perhaps it’s better if it doesn’t in some way?
Meanwhile, Louis will be 40 next year and rapidly approaching the age his mum died. He also attended the annual gathering in Soho Square in London, where die-hard fans gather to celebrate her birthday on October 10th, earlier this year.
” It was wonderful this year being the 25th anniversary and talking to all the fans about mum and her music. I leave without stopping. It helps keep her memory alive, “he says.
Soon, Louis will depart for Bali, where Steve currently resides, for the holiday season. He adds:” Mum would be annoyed that the song she is most famous for is a Christmas song, but at least it isn’t a cringe one. Fairy Tale has been playing in Irish pubs for me, and everything just turns into a party. It gives out good vibes.
“It’s a double-edged sword when one of my mother’s songs comes on the radio, but it’s always wonderful to hear her voice again. I still play her records a lot. My favorite album is Tropical Brainstorm. She was coming out of a deep depression when she wrote it and had her old verve back, which is what I am hoping for myself.
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” My restaurant closed down and I split up with my girlfriend of 12 years so I am taking some time to work out what to do next. On the anniversary of her death, Dad and I will undoubtedly go out for dinner and raise a glass. I will play Fairy Tale of New York, and then again on Christmas Day and think of her as I always do. “
In 1992, Kirsty MacColl performs Fairytale of New York with The Pogues.
