Brit couple with horror burns after Almeria wildfire – ‘it looks like Devil passed through’
A British couple have been rescued from a ravine near Bedar after being found semi-conscious with severe burns covering 40% of their bodies during the devastating Almeria wildfire in Spain
A British couple were saved from a ravine in Almeria after getting trapped during this week’s wildfires, according to police. Spanish Civil Guard Sergeant Pedro Barre informed TVE that the two were semi-conscious and severely burned, and were believed to have been out hiking when the fires escalated.
Rescue teams discovered them near Bedar – one of the areas most impacted by the fires. Sgt Barre explained that he and two others heard a noise while searching for survivors.
After descending a hillside, they located the couple in critical condition with serious burns covering 40% of their bodies. The couple are currently in intensive care. Rafael Zea, another officer involved in the operation, told the broadcaster: “Being able to call out in the condition they were in was a titanic effort.”
Barre added: “We’ll never forget that look of surprise and emotion on their faces.”
Spanish authorities have yet to identify the 12 individuals known to have perished in the fire – four of whom are suspected to be British. Another 23 are reported missing.
Over 150 firefighters and 220 Spanish military soldiers fought the fire with more than 1,400 evacuated from the mountains as the blaze spread on Thursday.
Police have cordoned off access to the mountain villages – with residents hoping to return soon to assess if their homes have been damaged.
Police experts are still attempting to identify the 12 individuals who perished in the catastrophic Almeria wildfire – after post-mortem examinations on their severely charred remains failed to establish even their sex.
Unidentified biological samples collected from the victims were transported by police helicopter to Madrid for analysis at a specialist Civil Guard laboratory.
Authorities have thus far refused to address claims that three children were amongst the casualties.
Disturbing images have surfaced of the destroyed vehicle in which four British citizens are thought to have lost their lives after becoming trapped by flames while attempting to flee the region.
The scorched remains of the right-hand drive Honda Accord formed part of a convoy of six vehicles and one motorbike abandoned at the same location on a dirt track upon a hillside near Bedar where the mass fatalities occurred.
Five had been reduced to skeletal remains and just two cars remained intact, though their paintwork bore damage from the extreme fire temperatures.
One blackened frame had been left facing the opposite direction to the others, seemingly suggesting the panicked driver had made a frantic bid to reverse and escape via their original route after inadvertently driving into a wall of fire.
A witness who succeeded in reaching the site remarked: “It looks like the devil has passed through here.”
Regional government officials have indicated they anticipate 11 of the 12 people confirmed dead will be identified as foreigners, “probably British and Belgians”. Four individuals suffering severe burns were transported by air ambulance to a Seville hospital yesterday, though their ages and nationalities remain undisclosed.
