The devastating wildfires that swept through southern Spain have claimed at least 13 lives, with a 93-year-old British woman among the victims.
Malcolm Timbrell, 70, survived the disaster by sheltering in an abandoned car with his cat, after becoming separated from his wife, Annette Kilgore, 69, and their friends and neighbours in the village of Bedar.
Timbrell and his wife had moved to Bedar after appearing on a popular television programme, where they were shown a property they later purchased.
When the flames surged through the village, Timbrell went back to get their two cats, but in the chaos, his wife and their friends and neighbours decided to flee on foot, despite his warnings that the firewall was moving at 20 kilometres per hour.
'My wife and our other seven friends and neighbours – against me screaming at them not to – decided the only safe way was to walk out in front of the firewall,' Timbrell said.
He later heard that the firewall had no chance of being outrun, and that his wife and the others had perished in the inferno.
TV host Jasmine Harman, who had met Timbrell and his wife on the show, took to social media to offer her condolences, saying 'I don't really have the words to say how very sorry I am for your loss Malcolm.'
At least four of the victims are thought to be British, and Spanish authorities believe all the victims were foreign tourists who attempted to escape on foot after abandoning their vehicles.
The wildfires were fuelled by a severe heatwave that has gripped Spain in recent years, with temperatures often exceeding 40C.
The Foreign Office has issued a statement saying 'Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the devastating wildfires in Spain,' and that they are supporting British nationals affected and their families.
