A British public relations executive and former Harrods worker has been identified as one of five tourists who tragically died during a catastrophic blizzard in Patagonia.
Victoria Bond, believed to be in her 30s, was hiking in Chile's Torres del Paine National Park on Monday when the group was struck by a sudden snowstorm with winds reaching 120mph – a force equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane.
A Trek Turned Tragic
The group of nine tourists went missing near the park's Los Perros camp, an area described by officials as a four-to five-hour trek from the nearest point accessible by vehicle. The ferocious storm, which also brought heavy rainfall, led to a massive search-and-rescue operation involving more than 20 people.
Tragically, five of the nine missing travellers did not survive. Alongside Victoria, the victims included two Mexican nationals and two German citizens. The Mexicans have been named as Cristina Calvillo Tovar and Julian Garcia Pimentel, and the Germans as Nadine Lichey and Andreas Von Pein.
José Antonio Ruiz, the presidential delegate of Magallanes, confirmed the devastating outcome and the location where the travellers got lost.
A Life of Adventure and Success
Victoria Bond was in the midst of an accomplished career, specialising in travel and lifestyle communications. At the time of her death, she was working as the PR manager for Visit Isles of Scilly in Cornwall, a role she had held for over six years. She was also involved with the local Roseland Festival.
Her professional profile, detailed on LinkedIn, showcased a history of prestigious roles. She previously worked in the luxury fashion industry as a fine jewellery and watch PR executive at the iconic Harrods department store between 2014 and 2015.
Her career in media and fashion began even earlier, with a stint as a freelance fashion assistant at Condé Nast from 2006 to 2011. Her work was featured in major international publications including Vogue China, GQ, Italian Vanity Fair, and Vogue Bambino.
Global Traveller and Heartfelt Tributes
Victoria's social media accounts painted a picture of a woman who loved exploring the world. In the past year alone, she had shared her travels from Athens, where she enjoyed a "10/10 life experience" on a catamaran, as well as from destinations like Barbados and Costa Rica.
She was hiking the renowned Paine Massif Circuit, also known as the O Circuit, when the disaster struck.
Following the tragedy, Chilean President Gabriel Boric shared a heartfelt message on social media. He expressed his "most sincere condolences" to the families and loved ones of the victims and assured them of the "full collaboration of the Chilean authorities and institutions in these difficult moments."
An FCDO Spokesperson confirmed to The Mirror: "We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died following an incident in Chile and are in contact with the local authorities."
