Homeless man who befriended Brit backpacker Hannah Almond after her Peru robbery hell dies just days after she was found

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.

A young woman assisting a homeless man.
The homeless man who befriended Hannah has sadly died
Woman in bikini sitting on a rope swing on a beach.
Brit backpacker Hannah went to Peru on a yoga retreat to ‘find herself’
Police officers assisting an elderly man.
Hannah tried to stop cops from taking the elderly man away
Burning belongings of a British woman robbed in Peru.
All of Hannah’s clothes were burnt after she and the elderly man built a makeshift shelter under the bridge
Map showing the location in Cusco, Peru where Brit Hannah Almond was found.

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.

Brit ‘drug mule’ Charlotte May Lee, 21, tears up as cops wheel £1.2m kush haul into court she ‘didn’t know was in case’

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.”

Two people sleeping on the ground, covered by a blanket.
She ended up living on the streets after being robbed of all her money and passport
Couple taking a selfie.
Piero Villanueva had briefly met Hannah in Lima and was able to find her after she went missing
Two people walking down a street, one looking at their phone.
Footage from local media shows Hannah and Piero walking through Cusco together shortly after their reunion
Woman sitting on a rock with an umbrella.
Hannah’s friends are now raising funds to help her get back home to the UK

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.

Woman with long wavy brown hair and red lipstick looking to the side.
Hannah reportedly arrived in Cusco in MarchCredit: Instagram

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

You May Also Like

British citizen detained by the United States on allegations of espionage and conspiracy on behalf of China

A BRITISH businessman has been accused of spying and plotting to smuggle…

Growing Up in Poverty: Why I Believe Lifting the 2-Child Benefit Cap for All Families is Unfair on Taxpayers

AS KING Canute found over a thousand years ago, it is quite…

Another Arrest Made in Connection with the Passing of Super Bowl Reporter Adan Manzano

Another individual has been taken into custody in relation to the passing…

I spent 100 days in a rat-infested jail on false ‘spying’ charges with 80 others in a cramped cell – I feared for my life.

A BRIT dad jailed on unfounded spying charges has told how he…

Rumors of Elon Musk’s Declining Mental State and Substance Use, Claims Freddy Gray

Alexander the Great, known for his military conquests, once expressed sadness at…

Anger sparked as confident transgender athlete SMILES after defeating female competitors in California championship finals following Trump directive

A transgender athlete continued to spark controversy as she leapt to victory…

Somersaulting cheese-chaser expresses gratitude for surviving injury in viral video

A CHEESE chasing daredevil is flipping lucky to be alive after taking…

JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes: How Much Older Is He than Her and Why Does It Matter?

JoJo Siwa, the American dancer and singer born in 2003, is now…

“Fans Point Out Major Issue with Billie Piper’s Return as Next Time Lord in Doctor Who After Mysterious Statement”

Doctor Who enthusiasts were extremely excited on Saturday night when the astonishing…

Archaeologists find ancient city lost for 3,000 years with remarkable pyramids and canals

AN ANCIENT Mayan city has been discovered by archaeologists in northern Guatemala,…

Trump spreads the belief that Joe Biden passed away in 2020 and was substituted with a clone.

On Saturday night, President Donald Trump took to social media to propagate a strange…

Luis Enrique honors daughter Xana with touching gesture following PSG’s Champions League final victory

Luis Enrique paid an emotional tribute to his daughter Xana, who died…