A British backpacker was one of several travellers who lost their lives after a devastating storm struck the mountains of Patagonia in Chile, with survivors now sharing the full horror of their ordeal.
The Ill-Fated Trek
Victoria Bond, 40, was part of a group of five British backpackers exploring Chile in mid-November. The group, which also included Hayley Newnham, 41, Tom Player, 39, Matt Smith, 39, and Christian Aldridge, 41, was trekking in the Torres del Paine National Park on November 17 alongside approximately 25 other travellers.
They had been assured the weather "would be ok", but survivor Tom Player later stated that officials should have shut the trail down and provided an advance warning about the snow forecast through an official channel. The group set off in rainy but manageable conditions, which then began to deteriorate with terrifying speed.
A Descent into a 'White Box' of Terror
The situation on the mountain became dire as the temperature plunged to -5°C and winds built to near-hurricane force, with gusts reaching an astonishing 193km/h (120mph). The rain turned into a heavy blizzard, drastically reducing visibility.
Tom Player described the scene as being trapped inside a three-metre "white box", with black ice everywhere. The conditions were so treacherous and exhausting that travellers were reduced to crawling on their hands and knees to make any progress. The group made the decision to turn back and attempt to descend the mountain.
The Tragic Loss and Recovery
It was during the desperate retreat that the group realised Victoria Bond was missing. Displaying immense bravery, Tom Player and another member of the group turned around and ventured back into the perilous storm to try and find her, but the whiteout conditions made any rescue attempt impossible.
When rescuers finally reached the area a day later, Mr Player said it was unequivocally a "recovery mission". In a tragic conclusion, the remains of five people who had succumbed to hypothermia and exhaustion were removed from the mountaintop. Victoria Bond was among the deceased.
As her body was returned to the UK, friends paid tribute to Victoria, remembering her as "one of those rare people who made everything brighter just by being there."
