A British couple hiking in Almeria province, Spain, were found badly burned and semi-conscious with burns covering about 40% of their bodies after being caught in deadly wildfires on July 10 near the village of Bedar. Civil Guard officers discovered the couple down a ravine during a search for survivors in the early hours of Friday, nearly two hours after faint cries were initially mistaken for an echo. Sergeant Pedro Barre said, "As you gain more experience, something inside you tells you: 'Look again, try one more time.' We’ll never forget that look of surprise and emotion on their faces" [1, 2, 3].
The couple were airlifted to hospital and remain in intensive care in critical condition. Rafael Zea from the rescue team described the couple’s ability to call for help as "a titanic effort" given their injuries [1, 2, 3].
The wildfire that spread rapidly through Almeria on July 9 has killed 12 people, including several British and Belgian nationals, although official victim identifications have not been confirmed. Authorities are using DNA samples from families and victims’ remains to assist with identification [1, 2, 3]. The fire scorched between 6,000 and 6,600 hectares (14,800 to 16,300 acres) and forced the evacuation of around 1,400 to 1,500 residents [1, 2, 3].
More than 500 firefighters, supported by military personnel and aircraft, battled the blaze amid a heatwave. Firefighters made significant progress after winds eased and humidity increased, and on July 12 the Andalusia regional government declared the fire contained and its perimeter secured. Regional president Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla said, "The fire had been contained and its perimeter secured" [1, 2, 3].
The rescue of the British couple came after hours of intense search operations by Civil Guard officers near Bedar, highlighting ongoing efforts to locate those trapped or missing from the fire disaster [1, 2, 3]. The couple’s medical prognosis remains critical as hospital staff continue treatment.
