British Expat Annette Kilgore Missing After Deadly Almería Wildfires

Wildfires swept through the village of Bédar in Almería province, Andalucía, on July 9 2026, killing 13 people and destroying homes amid a heatwave that saw temperatures rise to 44 °C. Firefighters battled the blaze as the flames rapidly engulfed the rural settlement.

British couple Annette Kilgore, 69, and Malcolm Timbrell, 70, who had moved from Cornwall after appearing on Channel 4’s “A Place in the Sun” and purchased a stone cottage in Bédar, were caught in the inferno. Both are missing and presumed dead; their husband has told the BBC he is awaiting DNA testing to confirm identities. The pair had bought the home for £200,000 and were accompanied by their cats, Charlie and Misty. Authorities are using DNA samples to identify victims whose remains were burnt beyond recognition.