A 76-year-old British woman, Susan Hornsby, has been rescued after being missing for nearly 30 hours in a ravine in Tenerife, Spain. She disappeared on Friday morning while on a solo hike during a holiday with her husband. A coordinated effort led to her discovery, and she was subsequently airlifted to a hospital for medical attention.
Concern grew when Louise Bakewell, Hornsby’s sister-in-law, posted an urgent appeal on social media. In her initial message, she described Hornsby’s disappearance, noting she was wearing a red coat and a white hat at the time. Louise mentioned the difficulty of communicating with local authorities due to a language barrier, urging anyone who could assist to come forward.
Hornsby set off for what was supposed to be a three-hour hike at around 10:00 local time. At approximately midday, she managed to send an email indicating that she required medical help, prompting immediate concern among family members and authorities. Louise provided updates via social media, stating that at 13:00 local time, Hornsby had been missing for 27 hours. She pinpointed the Casa Paca restaurant, situated near Benijo Beach, as part of the location from which Hornsby had embarked on her hike.
By around 14:00 local time, Louise shared the uplifting news that Hornsby had been found alive. “I managed to find her IMEI number and she’s just been found, alive after 28 hours,” she wrote. “She is being airlifted to hospital. I’m so relieved.”
The successful rescue has drawn praise for the community’s quick response and solidarity. In a follow-up message on a Facebook group dedicated to missing persons in Tenerife, Louise expressed her gratitude for the support she received. “Thank you so much for all your help and advice. What a wonderful group of people – my faith in humanity well and truly restored,” she stated.
Louise also took the opportunity to advise others on safety precautions, noting that Hornsby did not have the “Find My iPhone” feature enabled on her phone. She urged everyone to enable such tools for their safety, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of outdoor activities.
This incident has highlighted the importance of community support and the quick action of local authorities in ensuring the safety of individuals exploring the outdoors.
