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

Key Points:

• Malcolm Timbrell, a British man, survived a deadly wildfire in Bédar, Spain, which killed his wife Annette Kilgore and 12 friends and neighbors; he became separated from the group as flames rapidly approached their homes.
• The wildfire, one of the deadliest in Spanish history, spread quickly due to strong winds, forcing residents to flee; Malcolm returned to their house to rescue their cats, which delayed his escape and led to his separation from the group.
• Malcolm survived by sheltering inside one of the few vehicles that did not combust, while eight bodies were later found near their home, including several British victims among others from France, Belgium, and Spain.
• Local authorities faced challenges in responding quickly due to darkness and smoke, preventing seaplane and helicopter intervention, and some British expats criticized the lack of mobile alerts, though Malcolm refrained from assigning blame.
• Malcolm expressed gratitude for the support received and reflected on the tragic loss of his partner and friends, emphasizing the devastating combination of weather conditions that made the wildfire uncontrollable.