Latest news with #Matti
The Irish Sun
7 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Missing Brit backpacker Hannah Almond's heartwarming first words to uni pal revealed after being found homeless in Peru
THE first words of the missing British backpacker who was found homeless in Peru have been revealed by a university pal who flew out to track her down. Hannah Almond, 32, had vanished in Cusco, , after being robbed and . Advertisement 9 Brit backpacker Hannah went to Peru on a yoga retreat to 'find herself' Credit: Instagram 9 She ended up living on the streets after being robbed of all her money and passport Credit: GoFundMe 9 Piero Villanueva had briefly met Hannah in Lima and was able to find her after she went missing Credit: LR Noticias en Cusco 9 The tourist from Grimsby is said to have wrapped her arms around pal Matti and told him "I love you" after local Piero Villanueva found her Piero - a Good Samaritan - had managed to track Hannah down after briefly meeting her in Lima. Matti - who reportedly met Hannah when they studied together at Leeds Beckett University - had flown out on an urgent mission to rescue her. He said: "I came straight off the flight, and before I got to my accommodation I got the taxi to drop me off at the main square where she was with her friend. Advertisement read more news "She wrapped her arms around me and said 'I love you'. "She was wearing superman pyjamas given to her by a friend as she has nothing to her name. "Minimal clothing, no money , and no personal items like a phone or passport." Matti also helped Hannah reunite with some of the pals she had originally gone travelling with. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Speaking of Hannah's fragile state, he told Fisherman survives 3 MONTHS lost at sea by eating turtles, birds & cockroaches after being blown off course by storm "After some time she has expressed love and gratitude for me being here. We sat and had a bottle of water and talked about home. "She didn't want to eat anything at the time. We have listened to some music that reminded us of friends and times back in Leeds." According to Matti, Hannah has made calls back to home in Grimsby, with the pal ensuring she gets the help she needs and paying for her expenses while they remain in Peru. Advertisement Local hero Piero In an interview with a local TV station, he described how Hannah recognised him and broke down in tears before agreeing to leave with him. He said: "I have just found her. She is safe and well. I'd like to thank the authorities and the people who contacted me so I could help her. "Hannah recognised me and approached me crying and I asked her to leave with me. Thanks God she's safe." Advertisement Piero had been liaising with the British Consul and Hannah's friends in a WhatsApp group, coordinating efforts to track her down. 9 Footage from local media shows Hannah and Piero walking through Cusco together shortly after their reunion Credit: CuscoNoticias CTV47 9 Hannah's friends are now raising funds to help her get back home to the UK Credit: Instagram 9 The Good Samaritan told local media Hannah broke down in tears before agreeing to leave with him Credit: CuscoNoticias CTV47 Advertisement He searched late into the night on Saturday after she was last seen near Cusco's San Pedro market. He said: 'We searched from 7pm until 3am, and again on Sunday.' Footage from local media shows the pair together walking through Cusco together shortly after their reunion. A Advertisement A friend wrote: "Due to the help of everyone sharing the story, Hannah has thankfully been found and one of her friends is on the way to Cusco to persuade her to accept support and come home. "We know she has been refusing help due to the complexity of her mental health, so it is most likely that she will need to be placed into psychiatric care before getting a flight back. "This is an ongoing process but we are doing all we can to bring her back safely." Another pal Sophie Wallace revealed the fashion graduate had travelled to Peru in March "hoping for an adventure" but ended up in a "terrifying and heartbreaking situation". Advertisement She said: "She was robbed and assaulted, losing her passport, phone, and all of her money. "Since then Hannah's mental health , something she has long struggled with, has severely declined. "She is now in the midst of a mental health crisis, living under a bridge with a homeless man she befriended — the only person she currently trusts." Attempts to get her help through the embassy or police had failed, with Sophie adding: "She is extremely vulnerable, isolated, and not safe living on the streets of Peru." Advertisement 9 All of Hannah's clothes were burnt 9 Hannah reportedly arrived in Cusco in March Credit: Instagram Fears for her safety deepened after she had her belongings burned and was evicted from her makeshift shelter under the Belén Bridge. Mark Atkinson, the British Consul in Peru, said Hannah had arrived in Cusco in March and had not intended to overstay her visa. Advertisement He revealed her immigration status was now "in limbo". He said that before she vanished, the embassy had offered support — including hotel stays and food — but she kept returning to sleep under the same bridge. Local media reports say she is now 'being cared for and accompanied' and that repatriation procedures are underway. Piero had spoken just hours before finding her about why he felt compelled to act. Advertisement "I met Hannah in Lima where I come from," he said. "I decided to travel to Cusco at the request of her friends and family after seeing her situation online — she was sleeping under a bridge." He added: 'She didn't have money or documents after being robbed. "She was a victim of the insecurity in Cusco." Advertisement FCDO travel advice to Peru THE UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to certain parts of Peru due to ongoing safety and security concerns. Affected areas: Within 20km south of the Peru-Colombia border (Loreto region), excluding the Amazon River and triple border area near Santa Rosa de Yavari. Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM) — a known hotspot for criminal activity. State of emergency: A State of Emergency is in place until June 17 across the Lima and Callao regions, including key districts such as San Juan de Lurigancho, Villa El Salvador, and Comas. This allows joint police-army operations and the suspension of certain constitutional rights - including detention without a judicial order. Travel insurance warning: Travelling against FCDO advice may invalidate your travel insurance. Make sure your policy covers your entire itinerary, including adventure activities or volunteering. Stay informed and read the full FCDO travel guidance before travelling. Source:
Scottish Sun
7 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Missing Brit backpacker's heartwarming first words revealed after she was found homeless in Peru by heroic uni friend
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE first words of the missing British backpacker who was found homeless in Peru have been revealed by a university pal who flew out to track her down. Hannah Almond, 32, had vanished in Cusco, Peru, after being robbed and was left sleeping rough under a bridge. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Brit backpacker Hannah went to Peru on a yoga retreat to 'find herself' Credit: Instagram 8 She ended up living on the streets after being robbed of all her money and passport Credit: GoFundMe 8 Piero Villanueva had briefly met Hannah in Lima and was able to find her after she went missing Credit: LR Noticias en Cusco The tourist from Grimsby is said to have wrapped her arms around pal Matti and told him "I love you" after local Piero Villanueva found her slumped on a pavement. Piero - a Good Samaritan - had managed to track Hannah down after briefly meeting her in Lima. Matti - who reportedly met Hannah when they studied together at Leeds Beckett University - had flown out on an urgent mission to rescue her. He said: "I came straight off the flight, and before I got to my accommodation I got the taxi to drop me off at the main square where she was with her friend. "She wrapped her arms around me and said 'I love you'. "She was wearing superman pyjamas given to her by a friend as she has nothing to her name. "Minimal clothing, no money, and no personal items like a phone or passport." Matti also helped Hannah reunite with some of the pals she had originally gone travelling with. Speaking of Hannah's fragile state, he told MailOnline: "I think she was overwhelmed when I saw her if I'm honest. Fisherman survives 3 MONTHS lost at sea by eating turtles, birds & cockroaches after being blown off course by storm "After some time she has expressed love and gratitude for me being here. We sat and had a bottle of water and talked about home. "She didn't want to eat anything at the time. We have listened to some music that reminded us of friends and times back in Leeds." According to Matti, Hannah has made calls back to home in Grimsby, with the pal ensuring she gets the help she needs and paying for her expenses while they remain in Peru. Local hero Piero confirmed he found Hannah yesterday before posting a smiling selfie of them together. In an interview with a local TV station, he described how Hannah recognised him and broke down in tears before agreeing to leave with him. He said: "I have just found her. She is safe and well. I'd like to thank the authorities and the people who contacted me so I could help her. "Hannah recognised me and approached me crying and I asked her to leave with me. Thanks God she's safe." Piero had been liaising with the British Consul and Hannah's friends in a WhatsApp group, coordinating efforts to track her down. 8 Footage from local media shows Hannah and Piero walking through Cusco together shortly after their reunion Credit: CuscoNoticias CTV47 8 Hannah's friends are now raising funds to help her get back home to the UK Credit: Instagram 8 The Good Samaritan told local media Hannah broke down in tears before agreeing to leave with him Credit: CuscoNoticias CTV47 He searched late into the night on Saturday after she was last seen near Cusco's San Pedro market. He said: 'We searched from 7pm until 3am, and again on Sunday.' Footage from local media shows the pair together walking through Cusco together shortly after their reunion. A GoFundMe page set up to help bring Hannah home confirmed she had been found thanks to the massive online effort. A friend wrote: "Due to the help of everyone sharing the story, Hannah has thankfully been found and one of her friends is on the way to Cusco to persuade her to accept support and come home. "We know she has been refusing help due to the complexity of her mental health, so it is most likely that she will need to be placed into psychiatric care before getting a flight back. "This is an ongoing process but we are doing all we can to bring her back safely." Another pal Sophie Wallace revealed the fashion graduate had travelled to Peru in March "hoping for an adventure" but ended up in a "terrifying and heartbreaking situation". She said: "She was robbed and assaulted, losing her passport, phone, and all of her money. "Since then Hannah's mental health, something she has long struggled with, has severely declined. "She is now in the midst of a mental health crisis, living under a bridge with a homeless man she befriended — the only person she currently trusts." Attempts to get her help through the embassy or police had failed, with Sophie adding: "She is extremely vulnerable, isolated, and not safe living on the streets of Peru." 8 All of Hannah's clothes were burnt 8 Hannah reportedly arrived in Cusco in March Credit: Instagram Fears for her safety deepened after she had her belongings burned and was evicted from her makeshift shelter under the Belén Bridge. Mark Atkinson, the British Consul in Peru, said Hannah had arrived in Cusco in March and had not intended to overstay her visa. He revealed her immigration status was now "in limbo". He said that before she vanished, the embassy had offered support — including hotel stays and food — but she kept returning to sleep under the same bridge. Local media reports say she is now 'being cared for and accompanied' and that repatriation procedures are underway. Piero had spoken just hours before finding her about why he felt compelled to act. "I met Hannah in Lima where I come from," he said. "I decided to travel to Cusco at the request of her friends and family after seeing her situation online — she was sleeping under a bridge." He added: 'She didn't have money or documents after being robbed. "She was a victim of the insecurity in Cusco."
The Sun
7 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Missing Brit backpacker's heartwarming first words revealed after she was found homeless in Peru by heroic uni friend
THE first words of the missing British backpacker who was found homeless in Peru have been revealed by a university pal who flew out to track her down. Hannah Almond, 32, had vanished in Cusco, Peru, after being robbed and was left sleeping rough under a bridge. 8 8 8 The tourist from Grimsby is said to have wrapped her arms around pal Matti and told him "I love you" after local Piero Villanueva found her slumped on a pavement. Piero - a Good Samaritan - had managed to track Hannah down after briefly meeting her in Lima. Matti - who reportedly met Hannah when they studied together at Leeds Beckett University - had flown out on an urgent mission to rescue her. He said: "I came straight off the flight, and before I got to my accommodation I got the taxi to drop me off at the main square where she was with her friend. "She wrapped her arms around me and said 'I love you'. "She was wearing superman pyjamas given to her by a friend as she has nothing to her name. "Minimal clothing, no money, and no personal items like a phone or passport." Matti also helped Hannah reunite with some of the pals she had originally gone travelling with. Speaking of Hannah's fragile state, he told MailOnline:"I think she was overwhelmed when I saw her if I'm honest. Fisherman survives 3 MONTHS lost at sea by eating turtles, birds & cockroaches after being blown off course by storm "After some time she has expressed love and gratitude for me being here. We sat and had a bottle of water and talked about home. "She didn't want to eat anything at the time. We have listened to some music that reminded us of friends and times back in Leeds." According to Matti, Hannah has made calls back to home in Grimsby, with the pal ensuring she gets the help she needs and paying for her expenses while they remain in Peru. Local hero Piero confirmed he found Hannah yesterday before posting a smiling selfie of them together. In an interview with a local TV station, he described how Hannah recognised him and broke down in tears before agreeing to leave with him. He said: "I have just found her. She is safe and well. I'd like to thank the authorities and the people who contacted me so I could help her. "Hannah recognised me and approached me crying and I asked her to leave with me. Thanks God she's safe." Piero had been liaising with the British Consul and Hannah's friends in a WhatsApp group, coordinating efforts to track her down. 8 8 8 He searched late into the night on Saturday after she was last seen near Cusco's San Pedro market. He said: 'We searched from 7pm until 3am, and again on Sunday.' Footage from local media shows the pair together walking through Cusco together shortly after their reunion. A GoFundMe page set up to help bring Hannah home confirmed she had been found thanks to the massive online effort. A friend wrote: "Due to the help of everyone sharing the story, Hannah has thankfully been found and one of her friends is on the way to Cusco to persuade her to accept support and come home. "We know she has been refusing help due to the complexity of her mental health, so it is most likely that she will need to be placed into psychiatric care before getting a flight back. "This is an ongoing process but we are doing all we can to bring her back safely." Another pal Sophie Wallace revealed the fashion graduate had travelled to Peru in March "hoping for an adventure" but ended up in a "terrifying and heartbreaking situation". She said: "She was robbed and assaulted, losing her passport, phone, and all of her money. "Since then Hannah's mental health, something she has long struggled with, has severely declined. "She is now in the midst of a mental health crisis, living under a bridge with a homeless man she befriended — the only person she currently trusts." Attempts to get her help through the embassy or police had failed, with Sophie adding: "She is extremely vulnerable, isolated, and not safe living on the streets of Peru." 8 8 Fears for her safety deepened after she had her belongings burned and was evicted from her makeshift shelter under the Belén Bridge. Mark Atkinson, the British Consul in Peru, said Hannah had arrived in Cusco in March and had not intended to overstay her visa. He revealed her immigration status was now "in limbo". He said that before she vanished, the embassy had offered support — including hotel stays and food — but she kept returning to sleep under the same bridge. Local media reports say she is now 'being cared for and accompanied' and that repatriation procedures are underway. Piero had spoken just hours before finding her about why he felt compelled to act. "I met Hannah in Lima where I come from," he said. "I decided to travel to Cusco at the request of her friends and family after seeing her situation online — she was sleeping under a bridge." He added: 'She didn't have money or documents after being robbed. "She was a victim of the insecurity in Cusco." FCDO travel advice to Peru THE UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to certain parts of Peru due to ongoing safety and security concerns. Affected areas: Within 20km south of the Peru-Colombia border (Loreto region), excluding the Amazon River and triple border area near Santa Rosa de Yavari. Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM) — a known hotspot for criminal activity. State of emergency: A State of Emergency is in place until June 17 across the Lima and Callao regions, including key districts such as San Juan de Lurigancho, Villa El Salvador, and Comas. This allows joint police-army operations and the suspension of certain constitutional rights - including detention without a judicial order. Travel insurance warning: Travelling against FCDO advice may invalidate your travel insurance. Make sure your policy covers your entire itinerary, including adventure activities or volunteering. Stay informed and read the full FCDO travel guidance before travelling.
Daily Record
7 days ago
- Daily Record
Hannah Almond breaks silence after Brit tourist saved from homelessness in Peru
Hannah Almond, 32, wrapped her arms around her pal "Matti" after he discovered her sleeping rough on the streets of Cusco in the South American nation. A British tourist who was attacked while she slept rough after disappearing in Peru told her friend "I love you" amid an emotional reunion. Hannah Almond wrapped her arms around her pal "Matti" after he discovered her sleeping rough on the streets of Cusco in the South American nation before she uttered the heartwarming words. A Good Samaritan in the city, Piero Villanueva, helped Matti locate the 32-year-old. As reported by the Mirror, it is thought that Hannah had been homeless for weeks with no money and passport after she became separated from friends with whom she had gone backpacking. The fashion graduate was violently attacked during this awful period and thugs burned her possessions. Hannah, from Grimsby in Lincolnshire, was delighted to see her pal - who wants only to be referred to as Matti - after he flew out on a desperate mission to rescue her. The mate said: "I came straight off the flight, and before I got to my accommodation I got the taxi to drop me off at the main square where she was with her friend. "She wrapped her arms around me and said 'I love you'. She was wearing superman pyjamas given to her by a friend as she has nothing to her name. Minimal clothing, no money, and no personal items like a phone or passport." Hannah was only left with the clothes she was wearing following the fire. Matti helped reunite Hannah with some of her friends with whom she had originally gone travelling, including Mila. Mila and Hannah danced down a city street, Matti said. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. It's understood Matti and Hannah met when they studied together Leeds Beckett University. He told Mail Online: "I think she was overwhelmed when I saw her if I'm honest. After some time she has expressed love and gratitude for me being here. We sat and had a bottle of water and talked about home. She didn't want to eat anything at the time. We have listened to some music that reminded us of friends and times back in Leeds." Hannah has reportedly called family back home in Grimsby and Matti is ensuring his pal gets the right help she needs. The graduate had gone to Peru in March "hoping for adventure" and to "find herself" at a yoga retreat. She was robbed and assaulted, losing her passport, phone and all of her money, a GoFundMe page revealed. More than £7,500 has been raised - including donations from strangers - and this money will be used to help pay for emergency care, food and any further flights Hannah's friends and family require. The current Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice warns a number of Brit tourists have been targeted by armed robbers in recent years. It adds: "Personal attacks, including sexual assaults, are infrequent but do happen, mostly in the Cusco and Arequipa areas."
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Brit tourist's first emotional words as hero saves her from homelessness in Peru
Hannah Almond was found sleeping rough on the streets of Cusco, Peru, where she had been backpacking in an attempt to "find herself" - and vanished from friends A Brit tourist who disappeared in Peru and was attacked while she slept rough told her friend "I love you" amid an emotional reunion. Hannah Almond, 32, wrapped her arms around her pal "Matti" and uttered the heartwarming words when he discovered her sleeping rough on the streets of Cusco in the South American nation. Piero Villanueva, a Good Samaritan in the city, helped Matti locate the woman. Hannah had been homeless for weeks with no money and passport after she became separated from friends with whom she had gone backpacking, it is thought. During this awful period, the fashion graduate was violently attacked and thugs burned her possessions. She was delighted to see her pal - who wants only to be referred to as Matti - after he flew out on a desperate mission to rescue Hannah, from Grimsby, Lincolnshire. The mate said: "I came straight off the flight, and before I got to my accommodation I got the taxi to drop me off at the main square where she was with her friend. "She wrapped her arms around me and said 'I love you'. She was wearing superman pajamas given to her by a friend as she has nothing to her name. Minimal clothing, no money, and no personal items like a phone or passport." Hannah was only left with the clothes she was wearing following the fire. Matti helped reunite Hannah with some of her friends with whom she had originally gone travelling, including Mila. Mila and Hannah danced down a city street, Matti continued. Matti and Hannah met when they studied together Leeds Beckett University, it is understood. He told Mail Online: "I think she was overwhelmed when I saw her if I'm honest. After some time she has expressed love and gratitude for me being here. We sat and had a bottle of water and talked about home. She didn't want to eat anything at the time. We have listened to some music that reminded us of friends and times back in Leeds." Hannah has reportedly called family back home in Grimsby and Matti is ensuring his pal gets the right help she needs. The graduate had gone to Peru in March "hoping for adventure" and to "find herself" at a yoga retreat. She was robbed and assaulted, losing her passport, phone and all of her money, a GoFundMe page revealed. More than £7,500 has been raised - including donations from strangers - and this money will be used to help pay for emergency care, food and any further flights Hannah's friends and family require. The current Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice warns a number of Brit tourists have been targeted by armed robbers in recent years. It adds: "Personal attacks, including sexual assaults, are infrequent but do happen, mostly in the Cusco and Arequipa areas."
