Key facts
- A British man, Malcolm Timbrell, survived a wildfire in Bédar, Spain, that killed his wife and 12 friends and neighbors.
- Timbrell became separated from the group while attempting to rescue their cats.
- The group initially tried to flee by car, but Timbrell's wife and friends opted to walk.
- Timbrell took refuge in abandoned cars, with four of them combusting.
- Bodies of eight people were discovered on a path from Timbrell's house, and four more victims were found in a burnt-out vehicle.
- Spanish authorities identified victims from Britain, France, Belgium, and Spain.
A British man has recounted his terrifying experience of surviving a wildfire in southeastern Spain that killed his wife and 12 friends and neighbors. Malcolm Timbrell, 70, and his wife Annette Kilgore, 69, were in their home in the village of Bédar when the blaze, fanned by strong winds, swept through the area last Thursday evening.
Timbrell explained that he and his wife, along with their neighbors, initially decided to flee by car. However, he chose to return to their property to rescue their cats, Charlie and Lilly. This decision led to him becoming separated from the group. He stated that his wife and the other seven friends and neighbors decided to walk to safety, against his warnings, as they believed it was the only way to escape the approaching "firewall" which he later heard was moving at over 20 kilometers per hour.
Left alone, Timbrell sought refuge in abandoned cars. He described how four of the six cars he tried to shelter in instantly combusted. He survived by moving to the last two cars, which, though severely damaged, remained intact. He was later rescued by emergency workers.
Tragically, the bodies of eight people were discovered on a path leading down from Timbrell's house. Authorities also found four more victims in a burnt-out vehicle, believed to be British. Spanish officials confirmed that three Britons, along with one national each from France, Belgium, and Spain, were among the deceased. A 93-year-old British woman died from her injuries in the hospital on Sunday.
Despite criticism from some British expats regarding the lack of mobile phone alerts, Timbrell did not assign blame, citing the difficult conditions for emergency services. He expressed his gratitude for the support he has received and is awaiting DNA clarification for the victims, anticipating a difficult emotional period ahead.