A 76-year-old British tourist has been dramatically rescued from a ravine in Tenerife after vanishing during a solo hike, sparking a frantic 30-hour search operation. Susan Hornsby, from Devon, was airlifted to hospital following her discovery in a remote area of the popular Canary Island.
Disappearance During Solo Hike
The holidaymaker, who was visiting the picturesque island with her husband, set off alone on a three-hour walk at approximately 10am local time on Friday morning. Wearing a distinctive red coat and white hat, she failed to return as expected, prompting immediate concern from her family.
Family's Desperate Social Media Appeal
Louise Bakewell, a relative, first raised the alarm through a heartfelt Facebook post on Friday, highlighting the language barriers faced when contacting local police. "Can anyone help? My sister-in-law's mother Susan Hornsby, aged 76, has gone missing in Tenerife after a walk on her own," she wrote, appealing for assistance from the community.
As hours turned into a full day, the situation grew increasingly desperate. Louise provided updates, revealing that Susan had sent an email around midday on Friday indicating she needed medical assistance. With the British embassy closed for the weekend, the family's anxiety mounted.
Breakthrough After 28 Hours
The turning point came around 2pm local time on Saturday when, after 28 hours of uncertainty, Louise managed to locate Susan's IMEI number – a unique identifier for mobile devices. This crucial information helped rescuers pinpoint her location in a ravine along what was described as a well-known walking route.
"She's just been found, alive after 28 hours," Louise announced in an emotional update. "She is being airlifted to hospital. I'm so relieved. She was found in a ravine and has been airlifted to hospital. That's all I know at the moment."
Gratitude and Safety Warning
In a subsequent message to the Facebook group dedicated to assisting missing persons in Tenerife, Louise expressed profound gratitude while issuing an important safety reminder. "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 wrote.
She clarified the circumstances, explaining that Susan had become unwell during her solitary walk. Crucially, Louise highlighted that Susan did not have the "Find My iPhone" feature enabled on her device. "Please tell your friends and relatives to always enable this if they can, just to be safe," she urged, emphasising the importance of technological precautions for travellers.
Ongoing Recovery and Broader Context
While Susan's current medical condition remains undisclosed, her rescue after 30 hours in challenging terrain represents a remarkable outcome. The incident underscores the potential dangers of solo hiking, particularly for elderly tourists in unfamiliar environments.
This rescue operation highlights the valuable role that social media communities and mobile technology can play in locating missing persons abroad. It also serves as a sobering reminder for all travellers to implement basic safety measures, including sharing itineraries, carrying communication devices with tracking enabled, and understanding local emergency procedures.
The successful conclusion to this worrying incident will undoubtedly bring relief to Susan's family and the wider British expatriate community in Tenerife, while prompting important conversations about tourist safety in popular holiday destinations.
