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.
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.
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
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Source: Mirror
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