A British pensioner, Susan Hornsby, has been airlifted to a hospital after being discovered in a ravine in Tenerife nearly 30 hours following her disappearance during a solo hike. The 76-year-old tourist was reported missing on March 15, 2024, while on holiday with her husband.
The alarm was raised by her sister-in-law, Louise Bakewell, who posted an urgent appeal for help on social media. In her initial message, she shared details about Susan’s appearance, stating, “She was wearing a red coat and white hat.” Louise expressed concern over the language barrier when attempting to communicate with local authorities, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
Louise provided updates on Susan’s status, noting that she had set off for a three-hour hike at 10:00 AM but had sent an email around midday indicating that she required medical assistance. “27 hours still missing,” she posted, emphasizing the need for support as police began their search efforts.
The area where Susan went missing, near the Casa Paca restaurant close to Benijo Beach in northeast Tenerife, is known for its walking trails. As the search continued throughout the day, Louise shared a map of the region alongside photos of her sister-in-law, seeking any information that could aid in the search.
Around 14:00 local time on March 16, Louise announced that Susan had been found alive. “I managed to find her IMEI number and she’s just been found, alive after 28 hours,” she wrote. Susan was located in a ravine and was being airlifted to a hospital for medical care.
In a follow-up message on a Facebook group dedicated to assisting individuals reported missing in Tenerife, Louise expressed her gratitude for the community’s support. “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 remarked.
Louise also advised others to enable tracking features on their devices for safety, stating, “She did not have find my iPhone enabled on her phone—please tell your friends and relatives to always enable this if they can, just to be safe.”
Susan Hornsby’s rescue highlights the importance of community support in emergency situations, as well as the need for safety precautions when exploring unfamiliar environments. Her condition after being airlifted remains undisclosed, but updates from her family indicate relief at her safe recovery.
