A 42-year-old woman from Chile fell 2000 feet to her death while climbing a volcano on her birthday. However, just hours before tragedy struck, she shared a chilling message on social media about feeling uncertain ahead of the birthday climb that she said made her “super happy.”

On May 17, 2026, Ingrid Daniela Vera Figueroa was ringing in her 42nd birthday with high spirits, as she embarked on an adventure and climbed the Llaima Volcano in Chile along with her friends.

While descending the volcano around 3 p.m. local time, Ingrid reportedly stopped to click a few photos of the descent. This is when things went south.

It was reportedly a windy day, and the climber is believed to have released her ice pick. Ingrid reportedly lost her balance, slipped, and fell 2000 feet into a steep ravine, PEOPLE reported, citing Jam Press.

 

Just hours before her climb, Ingrid posted on social media, talking about the excitement as well as uncertainty she felt ahead of her trek.

“It’s three in the morning, and we’re finishing packing our backpacks to ascend Llaima,” Ingrid reportedly wrote. “I hope God accompanies me on this wonderful day, on which I’m turning 42 and am super happy,” she added.

She further wrote, “Yes, I have a little uncertainty about what’s going to happen.”

Severe weather conditions reportedly hampered rescue operations, and a helicopter was stopped from reaching the accident location.

Although Ingrid’s death was confirmed on Sunday, May 17, her body was recovered the next morning, around 6:30 a.m.

 

A joint operation involving police, firefighters, volunteers, and National Forest Corporation (CONAF) officials retrieved the climber’s body on May 18.

Ingrid reportedly worked as a school governor at Alexander Graham Bell School in Villarrica City, Chile. Her colleagues remembered her as a “responsible, kind, committed” mother following the news of her tragic death.

Her husband and her two children survive Ingrid.

CONAF director Héctor Tillería said that the trekking group failed to register with park authorities or Carabineros before ascending, thus violating protocol, the Mirror UK reported.

He urged climbers to complete proper registration procedures for their safety and cautioned that harsh weather, sub-zero temperatures, and challenging mountain conditions are expected this week.

 

Llaima Volcano stands over 10,000 feet tall inside Parque National Conguillio and is clad with glaciers, according to NASA. It is one of Chile’s most active volcanoes, with 39 eruptions since 1900, and has been active during 39 of the last 127 years.

Glaciers and sudden weather changes can make hiking the Llaima Volcano very dangerous for hikers who do not have proper gear or guides.

Meanwhile, at the time of writing, authorities in Chile were still investigating Ingrid’s incident.