A former Harrods employee from Britain who also worked in public relations tragically perished along with four others during a severe snowstorm while hiking in Patagonia. Victoria Bond, believed to be in her 30s, lost her life in the Torres del Paine nature reserve in Chile due to extreme weather conditions resembling a Category 3 hurricane, resulting in the disappearance of nine tourists. Victoria, along with two individuals from Mexico and two from Germany, tragically passed away on Monday, prompting a search team of over 20 people to be dispatched. Victoria, renowned for her PR work with prominent brands and in the travel industry, had been exploring the Paine Massif Circuit, commonly known as the O Circuit, at the time of the incident.
José Antonio Ruiz, the presidential delegate of Magallanes, confirmed the deaths of the five individuals, mentioning that they went missing near the Los Perros camp within the park, a location accessible by a four-to five-hour trek from the nearest vehicle point. Victoria’s professional background included serving as a PR manager for Visit Isles of Scilly in Cornwall, where she was actively involved in the Roseland Festival for over six years, specializing in travel and lifestyle communications as indicated on her LinkedIn profile.
Prior to her role in Cornwall, Victoria had experience in the luxury fashion sector, working as a fine jewelry and watch PR executive at Harrods from 2014 to 2015. She also held positions as a freelance fashion assistant at Conde Nast between 2006 and 2011, with her work being featured in notable publications like Vogue China, GQ, Italian Vanity Fair, and Vogue Bambino. Additionally, Victoria served as a luxury consulting director at a PR firm and a senior account director at another public relations agency.
Victoria frequently shared her global travel experiences on social media, showcasing visits to destinations like Athens, Barbados, and Costa Rica, where she cherished memorable moments like sailing on a catamaran. Following the tragic incident, Chilean president Gabriel Boric expressed his condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, including the two Mexicans identified as Cristina Calvillo Tovar and Julian Garcia Pimentel, and the two Germans named Nadine Lichey and Andreas Von Pein.
An FCDO Spokesperson informed The Mirror that they are providing support to the family of the deceased British woman and maintaining communication with local authorities in Chile.