A British couple vacationing in Almeria were discovered in a severely burned state at the bottom of a ravine by rescuers combing the charred terrain for survivors.

The recent wildfire that engulfed the Spanish province has tragically resulted in the deaths of 12 individuals and has consumed over 6,000 hectares of land, marking it as one of Spain’s deadliest wildfires in recent memory.

Numerous firefighters have been actively combating the raging blaze, believed to have been ignited by a fallen power line on Thursday, spreading rapidly through the village due to strong winds and dry, hot weather conditions.

Amidst ongoing efforts to locate missing persons, authorities are diligently searching for survivors in Bedar, the area most severely impacted by the fire.

A British couple, presumed to have been hiking when the wildfire encircled them, were miraculously found alive by the Civil Guard during the search operation in the scorched landscape.

Despite their dire circumstances and hidden location, the tourists managed to call for help, exhibiting immense resilience, as reported by Reuters.

Sergeant Pedro Barre, part of the search team, disclosed that they initially mistook a distant sound for an echo but persisted in their search, eventually locating the couple in critical condition with extensive burns covering 40% of their bodies.

The couple, along with seven others, are currently undergoing treatment for burn injuries in a hospital following the two-hour rescue operation that swiftly evacuated them.

Barre recounted the profound emotion on the couple’s faces upon being rescued, emphasizing the unforgettable nature of the encounter.

Simultaneously, forensic tests are being conducted on remains in Madrid, utilizing DNA samples from families of the missing to identify the victims, many of whom are believed to be of British and Belgian origin, with one individual of Spanish nationality.