Briton tells of surviving Spain wildfire in car as wife and friends died trying to walk to safety
BBC News 2026-07-13 17:31:54
Context: A devastating wildfire swept through the village of Bédar in south-eastern Spain, killing 13 people, including a British couple, Annette Kilgore and her partner Malcolm Timbrell's wife, and 12 of their friends and neighbours. The fire, which was one of the deadliest in Spanish history, was fueled by strong winds, dry land, and soaring temperatures. Malcolm Timbrell, 70, survived the disaster by taking refuge in his car with their two cats.
Key Facts
- Malcolm Timbrell, 70, and his partner Annette Kilgore, 69, were residents of Bédar, in Almeria province, Spain, where they had moved to after many years of sailing and had hoped to live out their final years together in the Andalusian countryside.
- On the evening of the wildfire, Timbrell and his group of friends and neighbours attempted to escape by car, but he went back to their house to secure their two cats, Charlie and Lilly, which ultimately saved his life.
- Timbrell's wife, Annette, and seven other friends and neighbours decided to walk to safety, despite his warnings, and were killed as the firewall moved at a speed of 20 kilometres per hour.
- Four vehicles were discovered burnt out, with four victims recovered from a right-hand drive vehicle believed to be British, and a 93-year-old British woman died of her injuries in hospital on Sunday.
- The Spanish authorities have identified that among the victims were three Britons and one national each from France, Belgium, and Spain, with local authorities and the police providing support to Timbrell and keeping him updated on their work.