Briton tells of surviving Spain wildfire in car as wife and friends died trying to walk to safety

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Briton tells of surviving Spain wildfire in car as wife and friends died trying to walk to safetyImage source, Malcolm TimbrellByNick BeakeEurope Correspondent in Bédar, south-eastern SpainPublished13 minutes agoA British man whose wife and 12 friends and neighbours are feared to have been killed in the Spanish wildfires has told how he became separated from them as the flames raced towards his home. Malcolm Timbrell, 70, and his wife Annette Kilgore, 69, lived in the village of Bédar, in Almeria province, which was consumed by flames last Thursday evening, leaving 13 people dead. The devastated survivor spoke to the outside his destroyed home high on the hillside.

"You'd never imagine it could happen," he said. "And when it does, and you're the only survivor, then you're left in a situation of, 'What can I do? '"He and Annette had found their property when they appeared on the Channel 4 programme A Place in the Sun.

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"She was such a happy, outgoing person," Malcolm said of his partner of 17 years. "We have had an amazing life together - and now it's stopped. "Thursday's wildfire is among the deadliest in Spanish history.

It spread quickly, tearing through Bédar, leaving Malcolm, Annette and their friends having to make the quick decision to flee. As the flames - aided by strong winds - neared their property on Thursday, the couple and their neighbours decided to try escape by car. Image caption, Malcolm and Annette's home in BédarBut Malcolm chose to head back to their house for their cats, Charlie and Lilly.

"If we'd have done the sensible thing and gone the other way and let our cats die, we both would be alive. But when you've got animals, you don't think like that. "With both cats secured, Malcolm says he attempted to catch up with the group - but saw they were now out of their vehicles.

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"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. "I've subsequently heard that that fire wall was moving at 20 kilometres per hour, plus. "Finding himself on his own in the chaotic situation, Malcolm said he attempted to take refuge in the now-abandoned cars: "Of the six cars, four of them instantly combusted and as each one started to go, I moved back one car.

"For some reason of fate, the last two cars, although very, very badly singed and paint bubbled and burnt, survived. "And I survived inside the last one with a cat. "British couple return to village at heart of deadly Spanish wildfire Published17 hours ago'This landscape is completely charred': Inside the village at epicentre of Spain's wildfires Published1 day agoThe flames eventually passed by and Malcolm was rescued by emergency workers.

However the bodies of eight people were subsequently discovered on a path down from the couple's house. There are still four large scorch marks where four vehicles were discovered burnt out.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.