Climber dies after falling 2,000 feet down volcano as she celebrated her 42nd birthday

By OLIVIA ALLHUSEN, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 16:22, 23 May 2026 | Updated: 16:23, 23 May 2026 A climber has died after plunging 2,000ft to her death down a volcano on her 42nd birthday. Ingrid Daniela Vera Figueroa was climbing with a group of friends when the accident occurred at around 3pm on Sunday. The mother-of-two posted a birthday message on social media just hours before her death. Ahead of her climb up Llaima Volcano, one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Chile, she said: 'It's three in the morning and we're finishing packing our backpacks to ascend Llaima. 'I hope God accompanies me on this wonderful day, on which I'm turning 42 and am super happy.' She added, ominously: 'Yes, I have a little uncertainty about what's going to happen.' Ingrid, who worked as school governor at Alexander Graham Bell School in Villarrica City, plunged to her death from a height of around 2,000ft (600m) while taking photos on the descent. She released her ice pick, lost her balance, possibly exacerbated by strong winds, and slipped and fell down a steep ravine, according to reports. Ingrid Daniela Vera Figueroa was climbing with a group of friends when the accident occurred at around 3pm on Sunday The mother-of-two posted a birthday message on social media just hours before her death Rescue efforts were hampered by severe weather, with strong winds preventing a rescue helicopter from reaching the site. Ingrid's death was confirmed that evening, but her body could not be recovered until Monday morning at around 6:30am due to continuing poor conditions. A joint operation involving police, firefighters, volunteers, and representatives from the National Forest Corporation (Conaf) successfully retrieved her remains. Conaf director Héctor Tillería said the hiking group did not register with the park authorities or Carabineros beforehand, contrary to protocol. He warned of adverse weather this week, with sub-zero temperatures and demanding high-mountain conditions, and urged all climbers to register properly for safety. A school spokesperson, where Ingrid served as governor, called her a 'responsible, kind, committed' mother. The community offered condolences to her husband, two children, family and friends. Volcán Llaima, one of Chile's most active volcanoes at over 3,000 metres, is a popular but challenging destination for experienced hikers. Authorities continue to investigate the precise circumstances of the fall. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.