Climber dies after falling 2,000 feet down volcano as she celebrated her 42nd birthday
A climber died on his 42nd birthday after falling 2000 ft into a volcano.
While Ingrid Daniela Vera Figueroa was climbing the Llaima volcano in Chile with a group of friends, the accident occurred around 15:00 on Sunday.
The mother of two posted a birthday message on social media just hours before her death.
Before climbing one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Chile, he said: ‘It is three in the morning and we are finishing packing our backpacks to climb Llaima.
‘I hope God will accompany me on this wonderful day when I turn 42 and I am very happy.’
He added ominously: ‘Yeah, I’m a little unsure what’s going to happen.’
Ingrid, who worked as a school principal at the Alexander Graham Bell School in the City of Villarrica, died after falling from a height of approximately 600 ft while taking photographs during the descent.
According to reports, he let go of his ice pick, lost his balance, possibly due to strong winds, and slipped and fell down a steep valley.
Ingrid Daniela Vera Figueroa was climbing with a group of friends when the accident occurred around 15:00 on Sunday.
The mother of two posted a birthday message on social media a few hours before her death.
While rescue efforts were disrupted due to severe weather conditions, strong winds prevented the rescue helicopter from reaching the region.
Ingrid’s death was confirmed that evening, but due to continuing poor conditions, her body was not found until around 6:30 a.m. on Monday morning.
A joint operation involving police, firefighters, volunteers and representatives from the National Forest Association (Conaf) successfully located his remains.
Conaf director Héctor Tillería said the hiking group did not register in advance with park authorities or the Carabineros, contrary to protocol.
He warned of adverse weather conditions this week, including sub-zero temperatures and challenging high mountain conditions, and urged all climbers to register properly for safety.
A spokesman for the school where Ingrid served as governor described her as a ‘responsible, kind, determined’ mother.
The community expressed their condolences to his wife, two children, family and friends.
Volcán Llaima, one of Chile’s most active volcanoes above 3,000 meters, is a popular but challenging destination for experienced hikers.
Authorities continue to investigate the exact circumstances of the fall.
