“SHE ALWAYS HELPED OTHERS” — BRITISH EXPAT DIES TWO MONTHS AFTER BEING TRAPPED IN DEVASTATING SPANISH WILDFIRE

MICHELLE LEAKE SPENT MORE THAN TWO DECADES BUILDING A LIFE IN SPAIN. WHEN THE FIRE CAME, SHE STAYED BEHIND TO HELP AN ELDERLY WOMAN ESCAPE — AND SUFFERED DEVASTATING BURNS.

A British expat who suffered severe burns while trying to escape a devastating wildfire in southern Spain has died after spending almost two months in hospital.

Michelle Leake, who had lived in Spain for more than 20 years, died at Virgen del Rocío University Hospital in Seville on September 8 after battling injuries sustained during the July 9 blaze in Almería province.

Her death has raised the wildfire’s official toll to 15 people and made Michelle the ninth British national confirmed to have died in the disaster.

But for her family, Michelle’s story is not simply one of another victim.

They remember a woman who spent her life helping others — and who was still trying to protect someone else when the flames caught up with her.

SHE STAYED TO HELP AN ELDERLY WOMAN

Michelle normally lived in Canjáyar, an area of Almería where she had made her home for more than two decades.

She worked as a carer for elderly people and was in the village of Bédar on July 9 looking after a 93-year-old British woman, identified by Spanish media as Audrey Curry.

When the wildfire rapidly spread through the area, Michelle and the elderly woman attempted to flee.

But the flames moved faster than expected.

According to Michelle’s sister Sharon, a fireball swept towards the pair as Michelle was helping the elderly woman out of a vehicle.

Michelle suffered burns to more than 40 per cent of her body. She was airlifted to hospital and spent much of the following weeks heavily sedated and on a ventilator.

The elderly woman also suffered severe injuries and died in hospital several days later.

TWO MONTHS OF FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE

Michelle was transferred to the specialist burns unit at Virgen del Rocío University Hospital in Seville.

For almost two months, her family waited and hoped she would recover.

According to her sister, Michelle fought through an extraordinarily difficult period before finally losing her battle on the morning of September 8.

Sharon described her sister as someone who was “always the one for helping others, never expecting anything in return.”

Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported that Michelle was sedated and receiving assisted breathing for much of her hospital stay, although she was able to spend some final moments with members of her family.

Those moments are now memories her relatives say they will hold on to.

FROM BRITAIN TO SPAIN

Michelle had spent more than 20 years living in Spain after moving there from Britain.

She was drawn to the region’s climate and landscape and eventually settled in Canjáyar.

Away from work, she loved animals, had a dog named Jax and enjoyed caring for the plants on her terrace.

Her family said she leaves behind a loving family, including a son and granddaughter, as well as siblings and nieces and nephews.

For those who knew her, she had built a life around caring for other people.

And on the day the wildfire struck, that instinct did not disappear.

THE DEADLIEST WILDFIRE IN RECENT ANDALUSIAN HISTORY

The July 9 wildfire tore through the Bédar and Los Gallardos area with extraordinary speed.

Spanish authorities reported that the fire travelled at around 128 metres per minute at one point, leaving people with very little time to escape.

The disaster initially claimed 12 lives.

Michelle’s death has now brought the toll to 15, making it one of the deadliest wildfires recorded in the region in recent history.

Fourteen of the 15 victims were foreign nationals, with British citizens making up the largest group.

QUESTIONS ARE STILL BEING ASKED

Michelle’s death comes as relatives of other British victims continue to demand answers about how the wildfire was handled.

The daughter of British couple Pete and Fran Gillam has publicly questioned aspects of the investigation after saying she later discovered personal belongings and what appeared to be human remains inside her parents’ burned-out vehicle.

Those claims have triggered further scrutiny of the authorities’ handling of the disaster. Spanish authorities have continued examining the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Families have also raised concerns about warnings and evacuation procedures during the rapidly moving fire.

Those issues remain matters of investigation and dispute and should not be treated as established findings.

“WE ARE IMMENSELY PROUD OF HER”

For Michelle’s family, however, the focus is now on remembering the woman behind the headlines.

Her sister Sharon said the family was “immensely proud” of how Michelle fought through her final weeks.

She had moved to Spain more than two decades ago searching for a better life.

She built a home there.

She cared for vulnerable people.

And when the fire arrived, her family says she was once again putting someone else’s safety before her own.

Michelle Leake is now the 15th person to lose her life in the devastating Almería wildfire — but to those who loved her, she will be remembered not simply as a victim, but as the woman who stayed behind to help.