Food influencer Ben Wood dies at 43 after attempting ocean rescue in Chile
A tragic rescue attempt at a Chilean beach has claimed the lives of four people, including food and craft beer influencer Ben Robert Wood.
Wood, 43, died after entering the ocean in an effort to help a young woman who had been swept into the water by a powerful wave in the coastal town of Algarrobo on Monday evening.
According to local reports, the incident unfolded at around 7 p.m. when a 26-year-old woman, identified as Patricia del Pilar Bello Labe, lost her balance after a sudden wave struck the shoreline and pulled her into the sea. Her partner, Felipe Hernandez Bustos, rushed into the water in an immediate attempt to reach her.
As the situation worsened, Wood joined the rescue effort along with his father, Norman Ray Wood, 77, and his partner María José Duarte Ureta, 47. However, the strong waves quickly overwhelmed those trying to help.
Authorities later confirmed that Wood, his father, Duarte Ureta, and Bello Labe all died in the water during the rescue attempt.
Felipe Hernandez Bustos was the only person to survive after being pulled from the sea by members of the Chilean Navy using a naval helicopter.
The Chilean Legal Medical Service later confirmed that the victims died from asphyxia caused by submersion, according to reports cited by O Globo and other local outlets.
A recognized figure in Chile’s craft beer and food scene
Wood was born in Connecticut but had spent nearly 13 years living in Chile, where he became a well-known personality within the country’s craft beer and food community.
He had built a following of nearly 40,000 people on Instagram, where he regularly shared content centered on burgers, cooking, and craft beer culture.
Beyond social media, Wood was also involved in several hospitality and beverage ventures. His work included launching the craft beer store Beervana in 2013, a project that helped introduce international beers to local drinkers. He was also associated with Alameda Beer Co, Craftwork Chile, and the Santiago burger bar El Honesto Mike.
In what would become his final Instagram post, Wood reflected on his professional journey and the early days of his craft beer projects in Chile.
Family tribute after the tragedy
Wood’s daughter confirmed his death in a message shared on his Instagram Stories on March 11.
Remembering him and the others lost in the incident, she wrote that “March 9 will be for you and to remember how you gave your lives for others, as you did so many times before.”
Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. Authorities have indicated that all four victims died as a result of drowning.
