Two British tourists trapped in deadly wildfire in Spain are found alive 'with 40 per cent burns' after police heard 'very faint sound'

By JADA BAS, REPORTER and GERARD COUZENS Published: 18:27, 11 July 2026 | Updated: 18:59, 11 July 2026 Two British tourists who became trapped in one of Spain's worst ever wildfires have been found alive with 40 per cent burns, police said. The blaze broke out late on Thursday in a semi-arid area near the Sierra de Los Filabres mountains in Almería province and has killed at least 12 people. The man and woman were out hiking when they got caught in the fire and were found at the bottom of a ravine in a two-hour rescue operation. The pair, who were feared dead, have been rushed to hospital and have reportedly been transferred from a hospital in Almeria to a specialist major burns unit in Seville. Pedro Barre, one of the police officers who helped rescue them, said: 'From the experience that builds up over time, there's something that tells you, "go back and look again, try one more time".' 'We heard a very faint sound, very far away but thought initially it was an echo.' Rafael Zea, another Civil Guard who helped find the pair, told Spanish state TV: 'The mere act of raising their voice in the state they were in was a titanic effort.' His colleague Miguel Moyano added: 'For us, it was unimaginable that there could still be life or people alive.' Two British tourists who became trapped in one of Spain's worst ever wildfires have been found alive with 40 per cent burns, police said. Pictured: Los Gallardos, Spain, on July 9 A view of a burnt area affected by wildfires in Bedar, near Almeria, Spain, on Saturday, July 11 A firefighting helicopter drops water onto a thick column of smoke to combat a massive wildfire while evacuation and firefighting efforts continue in Los Gallardos Emergency services in south-eastern Spain battled pockets of the blaze after it ravaged the region. Hundreds of firefighters and other specialists were deployed around the village of Bedar, where Spanish authorities say four Britons are among the dead. Some 21 people remain missing, including at least six Brits.  Local officials in the Los Gallardos area of Almería have warned the death toll could rise amid fears more Britons are among the victims.  A different British woman is among the four people being treated for burns in Seville. She was airlifted to the city's Virgen del Rocio University Hospital on Friday from a medical centre in Almeria where she was taken initially after being 'seriously injured' in Thursday's devastating wildfire. Wellwishers have said her husband and the British Embassy are aware. But one friend said: 'He has not been able to speak to her as she has been heavily sedated.' Another in an online post wrote: 'You are a strong woman with many of us praying for you.' Most of the victims died after ignoring shelter-in-place instructions, said Antonio Sanz, head of Andalusia's emergency services. 'Some tried to escape via a dry riverbed that 'turned into a death trap,' he said. Four victims were believed to be British nationals because the steering wheel of their burned-out car was on the right side, as with British vehicles, regional authorities said. Other unspecified nationals also were believed to be among the dead, and the death toll was expected to rise, authorities said. Seven people died while on foot after abandoning their cars, Sanz said, adding that most of the deceased were believed to be foreign nationals. The wildfire comes as Spain swelters in a heatwave, with scorching temperatures triggering orange weather warnings Some 150 firefighters and 220 soldiers from Spain's military emergency unit were battling the blaze, which had consumed more than 3,200 hectares (7,900 acres) of forest and farmland. Moreno, the Andalusian regional leader, said containing the fire was difficult because of the steep, dry terrain. 'It consists mainly of scrubland and esparto grass,' Moreno said. 'Everything is extremely dry due to the heat waves, making it the perfect fuel; combined with the wind, it's a ticking time bomb.' Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his condolences. 'Immense sadness and desolation in the face of the terrible consequences of the fire affecting the province of Almeria,' he wrote on X. Spain has battled frequent and severe heat waves in recent years, with temperatures often exceeding 40 C (104 F). Wind, high temperatures and little rainfall help small wildfires grow into unchecked blazes. In June, Spain experienced several days of record-setting heat, with over 1,000 excess deaths attributed to heat. Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service. Parts of Western Europe are facing their third heat wave in six weeks. Globally, 2025 was the third-hottest year on record, bringing several intense heat waves across Europe.