UK man rescued cats but couldn't escape Spain wildfire, made final call to wife
The tragedy unfolded during the deadly wildfire that tore through Spain's Almeria province over the weekend. At least 12 people have died, hundreds have fled their homes and dozens remain unaccounted for.
A British man died after returning to rescue his cats during the deadly wildfires that swept through southern Spain over the weekend. He was on the phone with his wife when flames trapped his car, according to UK media.
The tragedy unfolded during the deadly wildfire that tore through Spain's Almeria province over the weekend. At least 12 people have died, hundreds have fled their homes and dozens remain unaccounted for. Authorities fear the death toll could still rise as search teams continue to inspect the scorched landscape.
The heartbreaking details were revealed by Penelope Howe, a British woman from Wolverhampton who now lives near the village of Bedar, one of the worst-hit areas.
'HE NEVER MADE IT OUT'
Howe told The Times that her friend's husband had gone back to save the family's cats as residents rushed to escape the fast-moving fire. He never made it out.
She said the couple remained on the phone after his car became trapped by the flames.
"She's in deep shock. At one point he needed to stop and she spoke to him on the phone.
"He had got the cats and was trapped in the car. They were speaking together for the last few minutes. That was how it ended."
Her account has become one of the most heartbreaking stories to emerge from the disaster. Officials believe many of those who lost their lives were foreign nationals, including British and Belgian residents who had settled in the area.
QUESTIONS GROW OVER EVACUATION
As investigators work to identify the victims, questions are also mounting over whether residents received enough warning before the fire reached their homes. Spanish officials have said many of the victims died after failing to follow advice to shelter in place.
But relatives of one Belgian victim strongly reject that claim.
Thomas-Wolf Verdonckt said he spoke to his father, 63-year-old businessman Stanislas Verdonckt, shortly before 9 PM on Thursday as the fire raced toward Bedar.
His father was later found dead with seven other victims in a valley below the Paraje el Curato area.
After arriving in Spain, Verdonckt spoke with neighbours who survived the blaze. He said none of them had been warned that the fire was heading towards them.
"The people who died did not fail to follow any orders because no orders were given. No information was provided," he said, as per the Daily Mail.
"They only started to run when the flames were almost upon them. That was their absolute last resort."
Authorities have defended the emergency response, saying local officials and police officers contacted residents by phone or went door to door with instructions. Some people were told to evacuate, while others were advised to remain inside because conditions differed from one area to another.
Bedar Mayor Angel Collado said he personally urged the group that included Stanislas Verdonckt to shelter in place.
SEARCH FOR MISSING CONTINUES
Although firefighters have now brought the wildfire under control, the search for possible victims is far from over.
Andalusia regional president Juan Manuel Moreno announced that the blaze had stabilised after several days of intense firefighting.
"Good news. After several very difficult days," firefighters had declared the wildfire in Los Gallardos stabilised, he wrote on X, adding that around 1,000 evacuated residents would soon be allowed to return home.
The fire has burned roughly 6,600 hectares of land, leaving behind destroyed homes, blackened hillsides and burnt-out vehicles on roads where people tried to escape.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is expected to visit the affected area on Monday.
Meanwhile, Civil Guard officers will carry out one final sweep of the disaster zone before authorities determine the final number of victims.
A British man died after returning to rescue his cats during the deadly wildfires that swept through southern Spain over the weekend. He was on the phone with his wife when flames trapped his car, according to UK media.
The tragedy unfolded during the deadly wildfire that tore through Spain's Almeria province over the weekend. At least 12 people have died, hundreds have fled their homes and dozens remain unaccounted for. Authorities fear the death toll could still rise as search teams continue to inspect the scorched landscape.
The heartbreaking details were revealed by Penelope Howe, a British woman from Wolverhampton who now lives near the village of Bedar, one of the worst-hit areas.
'HE NEVER MADE IT OUT'
Howe told The Times that her friend's husband had gone back to save the family's cats as residents rushed to escape the fast-moving fire. He never made it out.
She said the couple remained on the phone after his car became trapped by the flames.
"She's in deep shock. At one point he needed to stop and she spoke to him on the phone.
"He had got the cats and was trapped in the car. They were speaking together for the last few minutes. That was how it ended."
Her account has become one of the most heartbreaking stories to emerge from the disaster. Officials believe many of those who lost their lives were foreign nationals, including British and Belgian residents who had settled in the area.
QUESTIONS GROW OVER EVACUATION
As investigators work to identify the victims, questions are also mounting over whether residents received enough warning before the fire reached their homes. Spanish officials have said many of the victims died after failing to follow advice to shelter in place.
But relatives of one Belgian victim strongly reject that claim.
Thomas-Wolf Verdonckt said he spoke to his father, 63-year-old businessman Stanislas Verdonckt, shortly before 9 PM on Thursday as the fire raced toward Bedar.
His father was later found dead with seven other victims in a valley below the Paraje el Curato area.
After arriving in Spain, Verdonckt spoke with neighbours who survived the blaze. He said none of them had been warned that the fire was heading towards them.
"The people who died did not fail to follow any orders because no orders were given. No information was provided," he said, as per the Daily Mail.
"They only started to run when the flames were almost upon them. That was their absolute last resort."
Authorities have defended the emergency response, saying local officials and police officers contacted residents by phone or went door to door with instructions. Some people were told to evacuate, while others were advised to remain inside because conditions differed from one area to another.
Bedar Mayor Angel Collado said he personally urged the group that included Stanislas Verdonckt to shelter in place.
SEARCH FOR MISSING CONTINUES
Although firefighters have now brought the wildfire under control, the search for possible victims is far from over.
Andalusia regional president Juan Manuel Moreno announced that the blaze had stabilised after several days of intense firefighting.
"Good news. After several very difficult days," firefighters had declared the wildfire in Los Gallardos stabilised, he wrote on X, adding that around 1,000 evacuated residents would soon be allowed to return home.
The fire has burned roughly 6,600 hectares of land, leaving behind destroyed homes, blackened hillsides and burnt-out vehicles on roads where people tried to escape.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is expected to visit the affected area on Monday.
Meanwhile, Civil Guard officers will carry out one final sweep of the disaster zone before authorities determine the final number of victims.
