A British pensioner who fears his wife, friends and neighbours were killed in the Spanish wildfires has told how he survived by sheltering in an abandoned car with his cat.
Malcolm Timbrell, 70, became separated from his wife, Annette Kilgore, 69, as flames surged through their home village of Bedar, in Almeria province, on Thursday.
The couple moved to Bedar after being shown the property when they appeared on the Channel 4 programme A Place in the Sun.
They had decided to flee by car, but Mr Timbrell went back to get their two cats, and when he tried to catch up with his wife and neighbours, he saw they had left their cars and were trying to flee the flames on foot.
He told the BBC: ‘My wife and our other seven friends and neighbours – against me screaming at them not to – decided the only safe way was to walk out in front of the firewall.
‘I’ve subsequently heard that that firewall was moving at 20 kilometres per hour, plus. They had no chance.’
Channel 4 host Jasmine Harman shared on Instagram after hearing the news: ‘Some awful news. You may have seen on the news that Spain has been experiencing some terrible wildfires, and I was so sad to hear of the tragic deaths of several people in Bédar.
‘Sending deepest condolences to those have lost loved ones. Especially to Malcolm who previously appeared with his wife Annette on A Place in the Sun.
‘I don’t really have the words to say how very sorry I am for your loss Malcolm. I know we have never met, I can’t imagine what you are going through right now. Sending thoughts and prayers.’
Mr Timbrell said he and one of the cats managed to avoid the flames by moving into each abandoned car in turn before it was caught up in the fire.
A 93-year-old British woman has been confirmed to be among at least 13 people who have died as devastating wildfires swept through southern Spain.
The Andalusian government said the 93-year-old woman was taken to the hospital on Friday after suffering burns to about 20% of her body, and her death was confirmed on Sunday afternoon.
At least another four of the dead are thought to be British, after four bodies were found in a burnt-out car with its steering wheel on the right.
Spanish authorities believe all the victims were foreign tourists, who are thought to have attempted to escape on foot after apparently abandoning their vehicles and trying to flee through rugged terrain.
Spain has suffered frequent and severe heatwaves in recent years, with temperatures often exceeding 40C.
In June, Spain experienced several days of record-setting heat, with more than 1,000 excess deaths attributed to heat.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: ‘Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the devastating wildfires in Spain.
‘We are supporting British nationals affected and their families and remain in close contact with the Spanish authorities.’
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