Malcolm Timbrell, 70, a British pensioner who survived the devastating wildfires in Bedar, Almeria, by taking refuge in an abandoned car with his cat, has revealed his final desperate screams to his wife, who is now feared dead. His wife Annette Kilgore, 69, along with seven friends and neighbours, remains missing after they attempted to outrun the blaze on foot.
Final Moments Before Separation
Mr Timbrell and Ms Kilgore had relocated to Bedar after appearing on the Channel 4 programme A Place in the Sun. As flames tore through their village on Thursday, the couple planned to escape by car. However, Mr Timbrell turned back to retrieve their two cats. When he tried to rejoin the group, he found they had abandoned their vehicles and were walking ahead of the fire line.
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."
Survival and Confirmed Deaths
Mr Timbrell and one cat survived by moving between abandoned vehicles before each was engulfed. A 93-year-old British woman has been confirmed as one of at least 13 fatalities, having sustained burns to 20% of her body. Four more bodies found in a burnt-out car with right-hand drive are believed to be British.
On Sunday, two British hikers were found alive with severe burns to 40% of their bodies, according to Spanish national broadcaster RTVE. Civil Guard Sergeant Pedro Barre said: "That experience we accumulate over the years is what tells you: take another look, give it one last try, check again just in case." The couple is in serious condition but not thought to be at risk of death.
Authorities and Victims
Spanish authorities believe all victims were foreign tourists who fled on foot. Antonio Sanz, head of Andalusia's emergency services, confirmed post-mortem examinations and DNA sampling for identification. 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."
Spain has faced increasingly frequent heatwaves, with temperatures above 40°C. In June, over 1,000 excess deaths were linked to extreme heat.
