Tragic Discovery of a Missing British Couple in Spain

A missing British couple has been found dead in their car days after flash flooding devastated parts of Spain, as confirmed by their family to the BBC.

Details of the Incident

Don Turner, 78, and his wife, Terry, 74, had not been seen since heavy rain hit Valencia on Tuesday. Their daughter, Ruth O’Loughlin from Burntwood, Staffordshire, reported that her parents' bodies were discovered on Saturday.

“We held out hope that they were still alive and maybe sheltering somewhere," she shared with the BBC.

Terry had informed friends they were “popping out” to get some gas when the flooding occurred. In an emotional moment, Ms. O’Loughlin recounted how she learned of her parents' fate:

“He said ‘Ruth, get your husband’, I called my husband in and he just said ‘Martin, hold your wife’, and said that they’d been found and they’d been found in their car."

The family is still in shock, with Ms. O’Loughlin expressing:

“We still don’t know exactly what happened to them. The only thing we’ve got from this is that they were together. It’s not the way you want your parents to go.”

Background on the Couple

Ms. O’Loughlin noted that her parents had moved to Spain about 10 years ago because they “always wanted to live in the sunshine.” She was informed of their disappearance on Thursday when friends checked on them and discovered their pets alone at home.

This tragic event is part of a larger crisis; more than 200 people have lost their lives due to Spain’s worst flooding disaster in generations. The floods began after a period of intense rainfall in the region.

Another victim includes a 71-year-old man from the UK who died shortly after being rescued from his home on the outskirts of Málaga. He suffered multiple cardiac arrests after being taken to the hospital.

Ongoing Search Efforts

Emergency workers are tirelessly searching through underground parking areas and tunnels in Valencia for any remaining survivors. There has been public outcry regarding a perceived lack of warning and inadequate support from Spanish authorities during this crisis.

Amidst these harrowing events, Ms. O’Loughlin reflected on her last conversation with her mother just a day before the floods:

“We talked about mum and dad coming over here next year to spend some time with us… I’m really glad I said ‘I love you’ and she said she loves me too.”