A British woman from Cornwall has been confirmed among five hikers who tragically died after being caught in a ferocious blizzard while trekking through Chile's Torres del Paine National Park.
The Fateful Expedition
The victim, known only as Victoria and believed to be aged 30, was part of a seven-strong hiking group attempting the challenging Patagonia O-Trek when they encountered extreme weather conditions with winds exceeding 120mph. The Cornwall-based PR professional had been documenting their journey through the spectacular but treacherous landscape of the Magallanes Region.
Before the tragedy unfolded, another British member of their group had posted a vivid video on Instagram under the account 'thegingerbreadfox', showing their progress through difficult conditions. The social media post painted a picture of their arduous journey, describing river crossings under drizzle and grey skies, with morale fluctuating throughout their expedition.
Desperate Pleas for Help
The situation turned critical when the group became snowed in near the park's remote Los Perros camp, which is only accessible by a four to five-hour walk from the nearest vehicle-accessible area. According to local reports, a desperate SOS message was sent to a Torres del Paine Facebook group at approximately 8:30pm on Monday evening.
The urgent message read: "We are at Los Perros camp in the Torres del Paine. People were climbing the John Gardner earlier today and the weather has turned very bad. We are snowed in and people are still out on the pass." It continued with the chilling warning: "Very strong wind > 120 mph... We need urgent help, climbers and rescuers are on the risk of dying based on our current situation."
International Victims and Rescue Efforts
The tragedy has claimed lives across nationalities, with the confirmed victims including:
- Victoria, the British PR professional from Cornwall
- Two German nationals - a man and a woman
- Two Mexican citizens
Chilean President Gabriel Boric expressed his condolences, acknowledging the rescue teams from Carabineros, the Army, Andean Rescue and Conaf who worked tirelessly in extremely challenging conditions. In his statement, he noted they battled heavy snowfall and winds reaching 190 kilometres per hour during the search and rescue operation.
José Antonio Ruiz, the presidential delegate of Magallanes, emphasised the challenges of the terrain, describing the national park as "a vast area, very difficult to access, whether by vehicle or truck." The remote location significantly complicated rescue efforts as teams struggled to reach the stranded hikers.
Following extensive search operations, two other hikers from the original group of seven were found alive, bringing the rescue mission to a conclusion. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable and dangerous nature of mountain expeditions, even in popular trekking destinations like Patagonia.
