Two British hikers have been found alive with severe burns after being caught in Spanish wildfires near the village of Bedar in Almeria province. The man and woman, whose identities have not been released, sustained burns to 40% of their bodies, according to Spanish national broadcaster RTVE.
Rescue by Civil Guard
The couple was located by a Civil Guard team who had previously swept the area but decided to return. Sergeant Pedro Barre told RTVE: "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 team called out and blew whistles before detecting a sound initially mistaken for an echo.
Fellow rescuer Rafael Zea said that given the severity of the couple's injuries, it must have taken a "Titanic effort" for them to raise their voices loud enough to be heard.
Casualties and Victims
At least 12 people are thought to have perished in the blaze, with at least four of the victims believed to be British after four bodies were discovered in a burnt-out vehicle with its steering wheel on the right-hand side. Spanish authorities believe all victims were foreign tourists who attempted to escape on foot after abandoning their vehicles in rugged terrain. Antonio Sanz, head of Andalusia's emergency services, confirmed that post-mortem examinations and DNA samples were collected for identification.
Evacuations and Hospital Condition
Authorities proactively evacuated 1,448 people from some 11 areas. The rescued hikers are in a serious condition in hospital, though their lives are not thought to be at risk. With assistance from firefighters and emergency services, the pair were brought to safety after more than two hours.
Heatwave Context
Spain has experienced regular and intense heatwaves in recent years, with temperatures frequently surpassing 40C. In June, Spain endured several days of record-breaking heat, with more than 1,000 excess deaths attributed to heat.
