THE homeless man who befriended rough sleeper British tourist Hannah Almond in Peru has tragically died just days after she was found.
A 32-year-old from Grimsby found herself sleeping on the streets under the Belén Bridge alongside an elderly man. She was even captured on video attempting to prevent authorities from taking him away after locals set fire to their possessions.
The woman had embarked on a journey to Cusco in March for a yoga retreat in search of self-discovery. However, her plans took a drastic turn when she became stranded, robbed of her passport, and left without any money, causing her significant distress.
Facing the harsh reality of her situation, the fashion graduate had no means to return home. Consequently, she ended up living rough under the Belén Bridge with the elderly gentleman, only to have their few remaining belongings destroyed by local troublemakers.
Hannah was found on Tuesday by a Good Samaritan local Piero Villanueva who discovered her slumped on a pavement.
Piero had been liaising with the British Consul and Hannah’s friends in a WhatsApp group, coordinating efforts to track her down.
Overnight it emerged the elderly man Hannah spent most of the last few weeks with died at a charity-run OAP home he had been taken to after a brief stay at a hostel.
He is understood to have been tragically found dead in his bed yesterday.
Local authorities have confirmed he is yet to be identified and are now expected to try to find out who he is with fingerprint tests as part of an autopsy and a possible public appeal.
If he cannot be formally identified he is likely to be buried in a pauper’s grave.
It is not yet clear whether Hannah has been told the devastating news about the man who has been described as the sole person she trusted after ending up on the streets.
Henry Gonzales, a legal advisor for a Cusco public beneficence department, confirmed Hannah’s friend’s death, saying he had been admitted to the OAP residence where he died with the initials NN.
This stands for Ningun Nombre, or No Name in English.
He also claimed the homeless man had appeared to be okay health-wise when local authorities took him in, adding: “He had already been assigned a bed and a room in his new residence.”
The unknown man’s body is now at a morgue in Cusco, with nothing at this stage pointing to his death being crime-related.
Pal Sophie Wallace revealed fashion graduate Hannah 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.”
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.
Hannah’s university friend Matti flew out to see her after the ordeal.
She is said to have wrapped her arms around him and told him “I love you” in the reunion.
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.
“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.
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: GOV.UK
