Photo: Socorro Andino // Instagram
An American mountain guide has passed away after an accident on a Chilean mountain. Todd Passey, an experienced IFMGA-certified guide based in Utah, suffered a fatal fall while skiing near Osorno Volcano in southern Chile’s Los Lagos region.
As Chilean Newspaper Cooperativa reports, the incident occurred around 3:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21. An excursion made up of two guides from the company Pioneros leading four tourists began their ascent on the mountain’s south slope. After reaching the summit, Passey fell near the La Picada sector on the volcano’s northern slope. Officials confirmed that nobody else was harmed.
The body was recovered around noon the following day. A multi-agency operation was mounted by teams from the Andean Rescue Corps, Carabineros (Chilean National Police), CONAF (National Forestry Corporation), and SENAPRED (National Service for Disaster Prevention). “The recovery operation took place in a high mountain area with difficult access. Finally, with air support, the body was extracted to the Cascadas sector, where it was placed at the disposal of the Forensic Medical Service,” explained Socorro Andino in an Instagram post.
Passey’s identity was first reported by KUER News, and subsequently confirmed by Wasatch Mountain Guides, where Passey worked as a lead guide. “Our beloved Todd passed away Friday in Chile while skiing on a volcano. He slipped and fell,” wrote Wasatch in a Facebook post. “We are devastated. We know we will be okay in time, but right now we are in a sea of sorrow, with quiet moments of peace knowing he is always with us. Todd touched so many lives, we have had many great adventures together and many of you have had adventures with him as well. Thank you for loving us.”
