Badly burned British couple rescued from ravine during Spain wildfires, reports say
BBC News 2026-07-12 11:23:09
Context: A British couple was rescued from a ravine in Spain's Almeria province after being caught in the deadly wildfires that have claimed 12 lives, including four Britons, and burned through 6,600 hectares of land. The couple, who were hiking when the blaze broke out, were found by Civil Guard officers in critical condition with severe burns covering 40% of their bodies. They were evacuated and taken to hospital where they are in intensive care.
Key Facts
- The British couple was discovered by Civil Guard officers, including Sergeant Pedro Barre and Rafael Zea, who heard distant cries for help while searching for survivors near the worst-hit village of Bedar in the early hours of Friday morning.
- The couple had severe burns covering 40% of their bodies and were semi-conscious when found, with officers describing their rescue as a "titanic effort" given their critical condition.
- Hundreds of firefighters, military and law enforcement personnel, and 30 aircraft have been responding to the blaze, with firefighters making significant progress in getting the fires under control by Saturday.
- The wildfires in Almeria province have claimed the lives of 12 people, including four believed to be Britons, with forensic scientists in Madrid working to identify the dead using DNA samples from relatives and victims' bodies.
- About 600 of the nearly 1,500 people evacuated from the fire zone in AlmerÃa province were allowed to return home on Saturday, with regional emergency chief Antonio Sanz announcing the update.