PR professional Victoria Bond, a former aide to stars including Cheryl Cole, has been confirmed as one of five hikers killed during a catastrophic 120mph blizzard in Chile's Patagonia region. The 40-year-old was on what was meant to be the trip of a lifetime when the group was caught in a ferocious storm, equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane.
A Descent into Terror
Fellow hiker and friend Chris Aldridge has provided a chilling account of the group's final, desperate moments. He revealed that while the trekkers anticipated some wind on the icy peaks of the Torres del Paine nature reserve, they were completely unprepared for the severity of the conditions that unfolded during their descent.
"Some people slid down the mountain," Chris recalled in an interview with the Mail Online. "It was icy, really treacherous conditions, [with] really strong winds. People couldn't see in front or behind [themselves]." He described his own terrifying experience of sliding down a mountainside at high speed on sheet ice, completely unable to stop, and fearing that everyone in the group would perish.
The Aftermath and Failed Rescue
When the survivors eventually made it back to camp, the full scale of the disaster began to emerge. Many were suffering from hypothermia, with numerous cases of frostbite and other superficial injuries. Tragically, it became clear that not everyone had returned.
With park rangers absent, having returned to their hometowns to vote in a general election, the courageous survivors took it upon themselves to mount a rescue operation for their missing companions. Sadly, it was too late for Victoria and four others—two Mexicans and two Germans.
Tributes and a Pledge for Change
CONAF, the body responsible for Chile's national parks, issued a statement expressing deep regret for the tragedy. They confirmed that, following the incident, they will review safety and communication protocols in the park to strengthen prevention and emergency response capabilities.
A spokesperson for Visit Isles of Scilly, where Victoria had worked, paid a moving tribute to their "much-loved" friend. They described her as "always full of charisma, charm and had an amazing passion for life," noting her "can-do, never-say-no attitude and infectious laugh." They concluded that she "will be missed beyond words."
