BRITISH EXPAT DIES TWO MONTHS AFTER BEING TRAPPED IN DEVASTATING SPANISH WILDFIRE

A British woman has died in hospital nearly two months after suffering catastrophic burns when a fast-moving wildfire swept through southern Spain.

Michelle Leake, a British expat who had lived in Spain for more than two decades, died at Seville’s Virgen del Rocío University Hospital after spending weeks receiving treatment for severe injuries sustained in the blaze.

Her death makes her the ninth British national reported to have lost her life in the devastating wildfire that tore through Almería province on July 9, according to reports.

CAUGHT IN THE FIRE WHILE TRYING TO HELP

Michelle had been living in the agricultural town of Canjáyar, roughly a 90-minute drive from the area affected by the blaze.

At the time of the fire, she was reportedly caring for an elderly woman in the village of Bédar.

When the wildfire rapidly spread, Michelle tried to escape the area with the woman.

Her sister, Sharon, said the flames suddenly swept toward them while Michelle was helping the elderly woman out of a vehicle.

Michelle suffered burns to more than 40 percent of her body.

She was placed on a ventilator and heavily sedated while doctors fought to treat her extensive injuries.

“SHE ALWAYS HELPED OTHERS”

For Michelle’s family, the tragedy has been especially painful because of the circumstances in which she was injured.

Her sister Sharon described Michelle as someone who was always willing to help other people without expecting anything in return.

“She has always been the one for helping others, never expecting anything in return,” Sharon said, according to The Irish Sun.

Sharon also expressed sympathy for the family Michelle had been caring for, saying they too had suffered unimaginable losses.

ANOTHER BRITISH VICTIM DIED AT THE SAME HOSPITAL

Michelle was not the only British victim of the devastating fire to die at the Seville hospital.

Lisa Fryett, a 47-year-old mother of three from Canvey Island, Essex, died there on July 28.

Fryett had been staying near Bédar with her partner, Simon Batchelor, who was also seriously injured and airlifted to the hospital’s specialist burns unit.

The wildfire claimed multiple lives after people became trapped as the flames spread through the area.

British nationals were among those killed, along with victims from Belgium, France, the United States and Spain.

A TRAGEDY THAT HAS RAISED QUESTIONS

The wildfire has also left some British families demanding answers about how the disaster was handled.

Among them is Danielle Gillam-Kirton, whose parents Pete and Fran Gillam died in the blaze.

Danielle has questioned the investigation into her parents’ deaths and claimed she discovered personal belongings and what appeared to be human remains inside their burned-out vehicle after being told the car had already been thoroughly inspected.

Those claims have added another painful dimension to a disaster that has already devastated families across several countries.

REMEMBERING MICHELLE

For Michelle’s family, however, the focus now is on remembering a woman who spent much of her life helping others.

She had built a life in Spain over more than 20 years.

She was caring for another person when the wildfire struck.

And according to her sister, she was trying to help someone else escape when the flames caught up with her.

After weeks in intensive care, Michelle ultimately lost her fight for survival.

Her death brings another heartbreaking chapter to a wildfire that has already claimed numerous lives and left communities across southern Spain facing the aftermath.

Michelle Leake went into the fire trying to help someone else.

Now, her family is left to remember the woman they say never hesitated to put others before herself.