Survivor of Chilean blizzard that killed Briton says staff told trekkers to proceed | Chile

A survivor of the blizzard that killed a British woman and four others in Chilean Patagonia said tourists were concerned about adverse weather conditions before the hike, but staff told them it was “normal” and they could continue.

London-based composer Tom Player told the Guardian that around 30 volunteers worked together to rescue walkers during the heavy snowstorm.

Nine people went missing Monday in Patagonia’s Torres del Paine reserve, a popular tourist destination, due to heavy snowfall and winds reaching speeds of 190 miles per hour.

Four people were rescued from a remote area of ​​the mountains, but two Mexicans, two Germans and a British woman, 40-year-old Victoria Bond, were confirmed dead on Tuesday.

The actor, who went to Chile with four friends, including Bond, stated that there were no park rangers that day and added: “We showed the screenshot of the weather forecast to the staff at the camp and they said it was normal. We followed this advice on the ship.”

He said: “There’s absolutely no way anyone was allowed in. The mountain was too risky for rescue teams, so why was it open to the public?”

Bond, from Truro, died along with Cristina Calvillo Tovar and Julian Garcia Pimentel from Mexico and Nadine Lichey and Andreas Von Pein from Germany.

Chilean authorities have been criticized by hikers for claiming that tourists had gotten lost near the park’s Los Perros camp.

The 39-year-old Actor said: “We are working tirelessly to set the record straight. Four out of five people were on leave, claiming anyone was missing.”

“I saw three of them during my efforts to go up. Our friend Victoria… was on the trail. To claim they were lost is truly sad and provocative. We have GPS data to back it up.”

Player described the storm as “absolutely severe” with cold air, showers, sleet and snow.

He said: “We had seen a forecast giving us winds in excess of 100km/h [60mph]Strong winds continue throughout the day.

“I don’t think any of us expected anything like a blizzard, it got worse as the day went on. We set off around 5.30 in the morning, it was raining heavily, there was a lot of wind.

“We fell over on all fours, even crouched down. I wasn’t prepared for the mountaineering conditions where your boots, your rope, your goggles are full of nails. I think it surprised everyone.”

The actor said the walking group consisted of an emergency room chief, assistant doctors, a helicopter paramedic and a psychologist who assisted during the rescue efforts.

“The rescue effort was one of those moments when you realize how much you trust humanity and people.”

He added: “There was a general lack of preparedness and emergency planning. We made a stretcher out of trekking poles, gaffer tape, tent rope and a sleeping mat.”

The actor said he also came across other walkers while searching for Bond.

“One member of staff kindly stepped forward. She was amazing, she and I ran up the hill.

We found someone, who later turned out to be Cristina, who was hypothermic. She gave him gloves and a coat and tried to walk with him to get help. I found someone else and was later told it was Julian who had died.

“I continued up the hill and found another person, who later turned out to be one of the German ladies. She answered. I tried to help her up, she was too cold. I wrapped my sleeping bag around her, stayed with her and tried to get her to drink a glass of hot water.”

A mountain rescue team eventually found Bond, and despite efforts to resuscitate him, he was pronounced dead.

The actor added: “I went there to look for my friend but I couldn’t find him, it’s so hard to live with. I didn’t know how many people succumbed to this severe cold.”

Adrian Jones, public relations manager for tourism organization Visit Isles of Scilly, who worked with Bond to promote the Roseland festival in Cornwall, said Bond was a “lovely, witty and creative” person.

Euan Rodger, vice-president of Visit Isles of Scilly, said: “He brought life, energy and infectious enthusiasm to every project and made them a real pleasure to work with.”

Mauricio Ruiz, regional manager for Conaf, Chile’s national forestry company that employs park rangers, told local news media that “there are no park rangers on the night of the 16th” due to compulsory voting in Chile’s presidential election.