A British mother of three has died from extensive burns sustained after she and her partner became trapped in a Spanish villa during a wildfire. Lisa Fryett, 47, was holidaying near Bedar, Almería, with her partner, Simon Batchelor, when the wildfire swept through the Los Gallardos neighborhood on July 9.
The couple were eventually rescued from a nearby mountainside after approximately five to six hours, an inquest in Chelmsford was told. Fryett died in hospital in Seville on July 28, with the provisional cause of death recorded as extensive burns. Batchelor remains in critical condition.
Despite their severe injuries, Fryett and Batchelor pleaded to be brought to safety, expressing a desire to see their children again. Their children, along with Batchelor's daughter, Fryett's twin sister Carly, her fiancé, and his daughter, rushed to Spain to be by their side in their final days.
Alfie Fryett, one of Lisa's sons, paid tribute to his mother online, calling her his "world" and expressing gratitude for their time together. A GoFundMe page has been established to assist the family with costs not covered by insurance, aiming to provide Fryett with a "beautiful send off."
In an update on July 31, the family shared the news of Fryett's passing, stating she died surrounded by loved ones and thanking donors for their support, which allowed them to stay together in Spain.
They also expressed gratitude to the Spanish people, the local community, and emergency services, particularly the Guardia Civil officers, for their courage and determination in helping reunite the couple with their children.
The Almería wildfire resulted in at least 13 deaths, 17 injuries, and the evacuation of 1,300 people. It is the deadliest fire on record in the Andalusia region and the third deadliest in Spain's history.
While the cause of the fire has not been officially confirmed, witnesses reported that a downed power line sparked the blaze, which rapidly spread to nearby trees.
Andalusia's health minister noted that some individuals took evacuation routes not designated by emergency services, leading to tragic outcomes. Two such scenarios resulted in multiple fatalities, including a vehicle carrying four people believed to be British and another group of seven walking who had abandoned their cars.
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed they are supporting the family of the British woman who died in Spain and are in contact with local authorities.
