A British couple on vacation in Almeria were discovered in a severely burned and critical state at the bottom of a ravine by rescuers who were searching the charred terrain for survivors.
The recent wildfire that swept through the Spanish province has tragically resulted in the deaths of 12 individuals and has devastated over 6,000 hectares of land, marking it as one of Spain’s deadliest wildfires in modern times.
Numerous firefighters have been actively combating the raging blaze, believed to have been ignited by a fallen power line on Thursday, and then rapidly spreading through the area due to strong winds and dry, hot weather conditions.
Authorities are currently making diligent efforts to locate survivors in Bedar, the area most severely impacted by the wildfire, with several individuals still reported as missing.
The British couple, presumed to have been hiking when they became trapped by the fire, were miraculously found alive by the Civil Guard during a search of the scorched surroundings. Despite their dire condition and hidden location, the tourists managed to call out for help, as reported by Reuters.
Sergeant Pedro Barre, part of the search team, disclosed that they initially heard a faint sound which they thought was an echo but decided to investigate further, ultimately leading them to the couple in critical condition. The pair, with extensive burns covering 40% of their bodies, were swiftly transported to a hospital in a two-hour rescue operation.
Barre recounted the emotional moment of discovery, emphasizing the surprise and relief on the couple’s faces. Among the eight individuals currently hospitalized for burns sustained in the wildfire, the British couple’s plight stands out.
In parallel, forensic testing is underway in Madrid on samples taken from deceased individuals, aiming to match DNA from families of the missing persons to identify the victims. The majority of the deceased are believed to be of British and Belgian nationality, with one individual identified as Spanish.