Family ‘heartbroken’ over British couple’s wildfire deaths in Spain

The family of a British couple who died in wildfires in southern Spain have said they are “heartbroken” over their deaths.

Pete and Fran Gillam, who lived in Bédar, the village that bore the brunt of the wildfires on Thursday, were confirmed dead by their family.

Posting on Facebook, their daughter Danielle Gillam-Kirton, from Sheffield, said the family were “heartbroken to share that we have received confirmation from the police that Mum and Dad did not survive the fire”.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said it was “supporting British nationals affected and their families and remain in close contact with the Spanish authorities”.

It is understood that the family had been searching for the couple since Thursday.

Gillam-Kirton’s mother had texted her that evening to say they were evacuating, but the couple had not been heard from since.

Messages and calls failed to reach either parent, she said in an earlier Facebook post.

The post by the couple’s daughter continued: “We are still trying to come to terms with this devastating news and ask for some privacy and time as we process everything.

“Thank you for all your love, support, and prayers over the past few days. They have meant more to us than we can ever express.”