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TRAUMATISED TOURIST
Missing Brit backpacker found sleeping rough on streets of Peru but refuses rescue after horror attack
Footage shows the Brit walking alongside the pal who found her in the streets of Cusco
A BRITISH backpacker who vanished in Peru has been found – but remains on the streets too terrified to trust anyone offering help.
Hannah Almond, 32, disappeared after a violent robbery left her without a passport, phone, or money – and sparked a terrifying mental health spiral.
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The yoga-loving fashion graduate from Grimsby had travelled to Cusco in March for a spiritual retreat to “find herself”, but ended up living under a bridge with an elderly homeless man.
Locals torched her few remaining belongings in a sickening attack.
After three days without contact, friends feared the worst – but now say a man she met briefly in Lima caught a flight to Cusco and “just started wandering the streets asking after her” until he found her slumped on the pavement.
Despite being located, Hannah is still sleeping rough and refusing support – including food, shelter, and help from the British embassy – due to trauma from the robbery that’s left her terrified of strangers.
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A friend told "She is one of the most pure loving soul ever - she is very generous and always wants to help people.
"But she does not trust anyone after getting robbed and assaulted."
One of her pals has now flown from the UK in a desperate bid to persuade her to return home before she disappears again.
The Brit's loved ones hope that a familiar face on the ground will help break through the fear and confusion that has kept her from accepting official help.
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The man who found Hannah, Piero Villanueva, revealed their emotional reunion and said she immediately recognised him and began crying.
He told local media: “I have just found her. She is safe and well.
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“Hannah recognised me and approached me crying and I asked her to leave with me. Thanks God she’s safe.”
Piero, who met Hannah briefly in Lima earlier in her trip, travelled to Cusco after seeing news of her disappearance on social media.
“I decided to travel to Cusco at the request of her friends and family,” he said.
“I wanted to come and help find her and assist her because she didn’t have money or her passport and other documents because she had been robbed.”
He confirmed he is in touch with Hannah’s family, the British Consul, and a friend flying in from the UK.
“A friend of Hannah is arriving in Cusco today and I’m talking with him to be able to assist her,” he said.
“We have to see now what’s going to happen, talk with Hannah’s mum and see what she wants to do,” he added.
“Hannah and her mum haven’t spoken yet. I’m talking with her mum but she’s an elderly lady and we don’t want to worry her anymore.”
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Hannah had been staying a makeshift camp under the Belén Bridge before she had all her belongings stolen or destroyed.
Eyewitnesses say Hannah and the elderly man she was staying with were violently evicted from the area by furious street vendors on Avenida Ejército.
Despite offers from officials, Hannah continues to return to the bridge camp.
Mark Atkinson, the British Consul in Peru, said: "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 confirmed her tourist visa has now expired, leaving her in legal limbo.
"She is in an illegal situation," Atkinson told local media.
A has raised nearly £8,000 to cover travel, temporary housing, and urgent medical care - and to help bring her safely back to the UK.
A message on the fundraiser reads: "Hannah travelled to Peru in March hoping for an adventure, but instead, she has found herself in a terrifying and heartbreaking situation.
"Since then, Hannah's mental health has severely declined."
It continued: "She is extremely vulnerable, isolated and not safe living on the streets of Peru.
"Hannah is a deeply kind and gentle soul, and we are desperate to get her care and safety she deserves. We need to bring her home."
More than 100,000 Brits travel to Peru every year, with most visiting Cusco - the getaway to Machu Picchu.
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The FCDO warns of armed robberies and advises travellers to stay alert, especially in Cusco and Arequipa.
The Sun has contacted the British Embassy in Lima for more information on the Brit.
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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.
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