What was meant to be a simple solo stroll during a sunny holiday in Tenerife quickly turned into a frightening ordeal for one British pensioner.
Susan Hornby, 76, had stepped out for a walk while visiting the island with her husband, Peter, expecting to be back within a few hours.
Instead, the outing ended with a desperate search and a night of uncertainty for her family.
Family Panic Grows After Messages Go Unanswered
Concern started to build when Susan failed to respond to messages and could not be reached.
With no clear way to track her location, relatives and friends began to fear the worst.
Family friend Louise Bakewell took to social media, explaining that Susan had gone missing after heading out alone.
She described what she was wearing — a red coat and a white hat — and asked for help, adding that communication with local authorities was proving difficult because of language barriers.
Found Alive After 30 Hours in a Ravine
After around 30 long hours, there was finally relief.
Susan was discovered alive in a ravine, though she was reportedly dehydrated and in a very fragile state, fearing for her life.
Emergency responders quickly arranged for her to be airlifted to hospital, where she received urgent medical care.
The rescue brought an emotional end to what had been an agonising wait for loved ones.
The Search Effort and Emotional Aftermath
Louise Bakewell later shared the good news online, thanking everyone involved in helping locate Susan.
Her message was filled with gratitude, calling the response “a wonderful group of people” and saying the experience had restored her faith in humanity.
It was the kind of outcome everyone hopes for when a missing person alert goes out — a life saved, despite the odds.
Where It Happened: Tenerife’s Rugged Anaga Landscape
Susan is believed to have been walking near Benijo Beach, in Tenerife’s Anaga Rural Park.
The area is famous for its dramatic volcanic cliffs, powerful Atlantic waves, and breathtaking sunsets.
But it’s also known for rough terrain, steep ravines, and isolated paths — conditions that can quickly become dangerous, especially for someone hiking alone or feeling unwell.
A Reminder About Staying Safe While Travelling
Following the incident, Bakewell clarified that Susan became unwell during the walk.
She also stressed the importance of safety tools like phone location tracking, urging others to make sure features such as “Find My iPhone” are enabled whenever possible.
Missing person cases involving tourists are not uncommon in mountainous or coastal regions, where phone signal can be unreliable and paths can be confusing even for experienced walkers.
Similar Case: Another Pensioner Found After Going Missing Abroad
This scare echoes another recent case from September, when 76-year-old Clifford Wildgoose disappeared for nearly two days while on holiday on Spain’s Costa del Sol.
He was last seen at a bar in Puerto Banus, and his family were left distraught until an American tourist recognised him and contacted his daughter.
He was later taken to hospital, bringing huge relief to his loved ones.
What’s Next?
Susan Hornby is now receiving medical attention, and the priority will be her recovery after the dehydration and shock of the experience.
Her family will likely remain in close contact with doctors while also processing what happened.
Incidents like this often lead travellers — especially older visitors — to rethink walking alone in unfamiliar areas, no matter how peaceful they seem.
Local authorities may also continue reviewing how search and rescue responses can be improved for tourists, particularly in remote natural parks.
Summary
A British pensioner, Susan Hornby, 76, went missing during a solo hike in Tenerife and sparked major concern when she failed to respond to messages.
After around 30 hours, she was found alive in a ravine, dehydrated and in need of urgent care.
She was airlifted to hospital, and her family expressed deep gratitude to those who helped in the search.
The incident serves as a powerful reminder of the risks of hiking alone in rugged areas like Anaga Rural Park and the importance of safety measures while travelling.
