A survivor of the blizzard that killed British woman Victoria Bond and four others in Chilean Patagonia has said that tourists were concerned about adverse weather conditions ahead of the trek, but were told by staff it was “normal” and they could proceed.
Tom Player, a London-based composer, told the Guardian that during the brutal blizzard about 30 volunteers worked together in an attempt to rescue hikers. Nine people went missing on Monday in the Torres del Paine reserve amid heavy snowfall and winds reaching up to 120mph (193km/h). Four were rescued, but Bond, 40, from Truro, died along with two Mexicans and two Germans.
Player, who travelled to Chile with four friends including Bond, said there were no park rangers present on the day. “We showed a screenshot of the weather forecast to staff at the camp and they said it was normal. We took that advice onboard.” He added: “There is absolutely no way anyone should have been allowed. It was too risky for the mountain rescue teams so why was it open to the public?”
Chilean authorities have been criticised by the hikers for suggesting that the tourists became lost near the park’s Los Perros camp. Player said: “We’ve been relentlessly trying to correct the record. Claiming that anyone got lost, four out of the five people were on the trail. … To claim they got lost is really upsetting and inflammatory. We have GPS data to back it all up.”
Player described the storm as “absolutely brutal”, with cold temperatures, downpours, sleet and snow. He said the hiking group included a head of ER, junior doctors, a helicopter paramedic and a psychologist who all helped during the rescue effort. “The rescue effort was one of those moments when you realise you have so much faith in humanity and people.”
Player said he came across other hikers during his search for Bond. “I went up there looking for my friend and I didn’t find her, it is very hard to live with that. I had no idea how many people had succumbed to this brutal cold.” Bond, a PR manager for the Visit Isles of Scilly tourism organisation, was described as a “lovable, witty and creative” person by colleagues.
