Latest news with #PieroVillanueva
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 Mail
28-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Revealed: The first words British backpacker said to her friend when the pair were finally reunited after 32-year-old 'vanished' in Peru
The friend who flew out to rescue British tourist Hannah Almond after she disappeared in Peru has revealed her first words after they were reunited. Ms Almond, 32 from Grimsby, went missing after being violently robbed by locals and left sleeping under a bridge with no money or passport for a month. She was found on Sunday by Peruvian Good Samaritan Piero Villanueva, before a friend 'Matti' immediately caught a flight to Cusco to try and bring her home. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Matti told how when he was reunited with Hannah on Tuesday she had been wearing the same Superman pyjama bottoms and a 'Friends' t-shirt for almost a week after locals burned all her other clothes. 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 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. 'I think she was left with only the clothes that she was wearing from the fire. 'When she saw Mila her friend from Grimsby who lives in Peru, they danced down the street which was lovely to see '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.' Soon after they were reunited, Hannah used Matti's phone to make a tearful phone call to her grandmother back in the UK to let her know she is safe. During the call 'she burst into tears for about 10 minutes and then a lot of love was expressed'. Matti has also bought her clothes and food. Friends had previously revealed Hannah had gone to Peru in March 'hoping for adventure' and to 'find herself' at a yoga retreat but instead 'found herself in a terrifying and heartbreaking situation'. She was robbed and assaulted, losing her passport, phone and all of her money, a Gofundme page revealed, and after sleeping on the streets for a month she was attacked by locals, who set fire to her belongings - leaving her sleeping rough. Struggling to deal with the brazen attack, they said her mental health had 'severely declined' and 'in the midst of a mental health crisis' she had begun 'living under a bridge with a homeless man she befriended' in Cusco. He told local news he was 'talking with her mum' to plan next steps for Ms Almond Even after she was found, friends said she refused to accept assistance, with psychosis triggered by the trauma of being violently robbed leaving her too frightened to engage with officials or locals. Hannah is now recovering from her ordeal at Mila's house which is around an hour away from Cusco. Matti, who knows Hannah from her time as an arts student at Leeds Beckett University, said when he first saw her he noticed his friend's skinny appearance after living homeless in Cusco for more than a month. He added: 'She looked skinny, but generally ok considering the circumstances. 'Conversation was very spaced out, and she didn't tell me a lot about what's happened. I can see that what she has been through is really affecting her mindset 'She hasn't told me much about what has happened, as I can see there is a mental block around what's happened out here. She's definitely trying to shut it out.' A Gofundme page set up by Hannah's friends has raised almost £10,000 including from MailOnline readers. Hannah hadn't been aware of the fundraising until Matti told her. 'When I told her about the fundraiser she felt joy and love,' he said. 'She smiled and said thank you so much for supporting her.' Mark Atkinson, the British Consul in Peru, told local media Ms Almond arrived in Cusco in early March as a tourist and did not plan to overstay her visa, however her immigration status is now in limbo. 'She is in an illegal situation. Her tourist visa has already expired,' Atkinson explained. Adding that the embassy is coordinating with local police and has also offered direct support, including hotel accommodations and money for food but she keeps returning to the same bridge. 'Sometimes we've paid for hotel stays, given her money for food, that sort of thing. But she always ends up coming back here,' he added. More than 100,000 Brits travel to Peru every year, with most stopping in Cusco - the gateway to Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail. Travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office warns that a number of British tourists have been targeted by armed robbers in recent years. It says: 'Personal attacks, including sexual assaults, are infrequent but do happen, mostly in the Cusco and Arequipa areas.'
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Friend who found missing Brit living on the streets of Peru describes moment she recognised him and burst into tears as they are seen reunited for first time
The friend who found missing British tourist Hannah Almond after she disappeared in Peru has told how ran into his arms crying after he found her on Sunday. Ms Almond, 32 from Grimsby, went missing on Saturday after being violently robbed by locals and left sleeping under a bridge with no money or passport for a month. She was found on Sunday by Piero Villanueva, who she had met briefly in Lima and who travelled to Cusco to look for her after MailOnline raised awareness of her plight. '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,' he told Cusco TV 47 immediately after. 'Hannah recognised me and approached me crying and I asked her to leave with me. Thanks God she's safe. [sic]' He told the outlet that he was 'talking with her mum but she's an elderly lady and we don't want to worry her anymore.' He said they would now 'see what [Hannah's mother] wants to do' next. Villanueva had been in contact with the consul and Hannah's friends, working together to follow her movements after she disappeared on May 24. He had searched for Ms Almond into the night on Saturday around the area she was last seen, the San Pedro market. Searching from 7pm until 3am on Saturday, they continued their search of the city on Sunday and found Ms Almond slumped on the pavement. 'It is a huge relief that she has been found,' one friend told MailOnline. 'When she stopped contacting people we were worried she had been trafficked and we would never hear from her again. 'After the MailOnline story, a guy she met in Lima who she only knew for about four days caught a flight to Cusco straight away and just started wandering the streets asking after her. 'He found her just asleep on the street, and one of her friends has flown out from the UK to Cusco to try and persuade her to come home. We want her home in the next few days.' Piero added: 'I met Hannah in Lima, where I come from. 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.' The fashion graduate from Grimsby had been on a yoga retreat to 'find herself' since March when she was attacked by locals and left sleeping rough. Concerns grew for her last week when angry locals attacked her and set fire to her belongings. Friends, writing on her GoFundMe page, said she had left for Peru 'hoping for adventure' but instead 'found herself in a terrifying and heartbreaking situation'. They said she was robbed and assaulted, losing her passport, phone and all of her money. Struggling to deal with the brazen attack, they said her mental health had 'severely declined' and 'in the midst of a mental health crisis' she had begun 'living under a bridge with a homeless man she befriended' in Cusco. Even after she was found, friends said she refused to accept assistance, with psychosis triggered by the trauma of being violently robbed leaving her too frightened to engage with officials or locals. '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 placed into psychiatric care before getting a flight back,' they said in an update, with the page still collecting donations. 'This is an ongoing process but we are doing all we can to bring her back safely!' The story has made national news in Peru with one website reporting the situation has left locals shocked and bewildered. Mark Atkinson, the British Consul in Peru, told local media Hannah arrived in Cusco in early March as a tourist and did not plan to overstay her visa however her immigration status is now in limbo. 'She is in an illegal situation. Her tourist visa has already expired,' Atkinson explained. Adding that the embassy is coordinating with local police and has also offered direct support including hotel accommodations and money for food but she keeps returning to the same bridge. 'Sometimes we've paid for hotel stays, given her money for food, that sort of thing. But she always ends up coming back here,' he added. More than 100,000 Brits travel to Peru every year with most stopping in Cusco which is the gateway to Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail. FCO 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.'
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Hero who found missing Brit Hannah Almond tells how she tearfully ran into his arms after backpacker trip turned to hell
THE hero who found missing Brit tourist Hannah Almond has spoken of the emotional moment she ran into his arms sobbing after her dream trip turned into a living nightmare. The 32-year-old had vanished in Cusco, Peru, after being robbed and left sleeping rough under a bridge. 6 6 6 She was eventually found slumped on a pavement by local Piero Villanueva, who briefly met her in Lima and managed to track her down. Posting a smiling selfie of the pair overnight, Piero confirmed he found the Brit from Grimsby. 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. 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. Piero added that one of Hannah's friends was flying into Cusco from the UK to support her as the Brit is too terrified to trust anyone offering help. Shocking moment thousands of Gazans overrun US-backed aid site as 'shots fired' 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." 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." 6 6 6 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.
