Two British hikers found alive but badly burned following Spanish wildfires
Two British hikers have been found alive but badly burned following deadly wildfires that have hit southern Spain.
The man and woman are thought to have suffered 40 per cent burns, according to Spanish national broadcaster, RTVE.
The pair were discovered by a team of Civil Guards, who said they had already checked the area, but had a feeling that they should go back.
At least 12 people are believed to have died in the fire near the village of Bedar, in Almeria province.
At least four are thought to be British, after four bodies were found in a burnt-out car with its steering wheel on the right.
In an interview with RTVE, the Civil Guard officers said they found the two British people alive just as night was falling.
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.”
He said they called out and used whistles, before eventually hearing a sound which they thought at first could have been an echo.
Another of the rescuers, Rafael Zea, said that given the couple’s injuries it must have taken a “Titanic effort” for them to raise their voices to be heard.
With the help of firefighters and emergency services, they were rescued after more than two hours.
The pair were last night said to be in a serious condition in hospital, although their lives are not believed to be in danger.
Spanish authorities believe all the victims were foreign tourists, who are thought to have attempted to escape on foot after apparently abandoning their vehicles and trying to flee through rugged terrain.
Antonio Sanz, head of Andalusia’s emergency services, previously said that authorities had completed post-mortem examinations and DNA samples were collected to identify them.
Authorities proactively evacuated 1,448 people from some 11 areas.
Spain has suffered frequent and severe heatwaves in recent years, with temperatures often exceeding 40C.
In June, Spain experienced several days of record-setting heat, with more than 1,000 excess deaths attributed to heat.
Meanwhile, parts of the UK are at “exceptional” risk of wildfires as the heatwave continues, experts have warned.
Areas in southern England and the Midlands are highlighted as being at highest risk, according to Natural England.
Its fire severity index shows the area of “exceptional” risk is set to increase and spread to the South East and east of England by the middle of the week while most of the rest of England and Wales is deemed to be of “very high” risk over the coming days.
The Met Office has said the scorching heatwave conditions experienced by much of the UK are due to last into this week, with most areas expected to stay dry, sunny and very hot.