A man who had been living on the streets of Cusco, Peru, and had provided companionship to British backpacker Hannah Almond while she was stranded, has died just days after she was located and brought to safety.
Hannah Almond, 32, had traveled to Peru to attend a yoga retreat. However, after suffering a violent robbery during which her belongings were destroyed, she found herself without resources and ended up sleeping rough.
Since the incident, she had been living on the streets under a bridge in Cusco, alongside a local homeless man she befriended. According to a GoFundMe page set up by her friends to help bring her home, he was described as “the only person she currently trusts.”
Despite support efforts from the British Consulate and local authorities, Hannah repeatedly returned to the makeshift shelter beneath the Belén Bridge. She has now been located and is preparing to return to the UK.
Tragically, the man who had stayed by her side throughout her ordeal has died. Peruvian news outlet Diario Correo reported that the elderly man passed away on May 29 while staying in a charity shelter, where he had recently been admitted for care. Staff noted that he had initially appeared to be in stable condition.
According to The Mirror, legal representative Henry Gonzáles stated that the man’s identity remains unknown. He had been admitted to the facility under the designation ‘NN’, short for ‘Ningún Nombre’—Spanish for ‘no name’. Authorities have found no signs of foul play, and fingerprint analysis is being conducted in hopes of identifying him. A public appeal may follow if no matches are found.
If he remains unidentified, officials have indicated he will be laid to rest in an unmarked grave designated for indigent individuals.
Meanwhile, the fundraising campaign to assist Hannah in returning to the UK and to cover any emergency medical needs has nearly met its £10,000 target. She had not been seen since May 24, prompting concern among friends. A man named Piero Villanueva, who had met her previously, went to Cusco in search of her and was ultimately able to find her. He confirmed that she is now safe and in good condition.