British mother dies and partner left fighting for his life in hospital after being caught in Spanish wildfire

By PATRICK HARRINGTON, UK NEWS REPORTER Published: 09:46, 5 August 2026 | Updated: 09:57, 5 August 2026 A British mother of three has died and her partner is fighting for his life after they were engulfed by a wildfire in Spain. Lisa Fryett and Simon Batchelor, from Essex, were staying near Bédar in southern Spain on July 9 when the deadly blaze ripped through the Los Gallardos neighbourhood. The next morning, authorities found at least 11 people dead and several injured - including Lisa and Simon, who were discovered in a critical condition on the mountainside. The Almería wildfire became Spain's third deadliest ever, claiming the lives of another four Brits found dead in their car after they tried to escape. Despite their devastating injuries, they pleaded with rescuers to save their lives so they could be reunited with their children. Her sons, Alfie and Charlie, and Simon's daughter, rushed to Spain to be with their parents, alongside Lisa's identical twin sister Carly, her fiance Mark Witt, and his daughter Mia. The family were able to join the couple at their hospital bedsides throughout Lisa's final days. Tragically, on July 28, Lisa succumbed to her injuries and passed away. Her son Alfie, 20, paid tribute to his mother online, writing: 'Words genuinely can’t describe how upset I am right now writing this... but yesterday we said goodbye to my beautiful mum. Lisa Fryett tragically succumbed to her injuries last week after being caught up in a Spanish wildfire She was found in a critical condition alongside her partner Simon Batchelor after the deadly Almería wildfire  Lisa with her identical twin Carly, who flew out with the rest of the family to be by her side 'The best person ever you was my world I’m so grateful to be able to call you my mum and I will forever love you and I will cherish every memory I have with you.' Mia Witt, daughter of Carly's fiance Mark, set up a GoFundMe to raise money to help the family, which has so far attracted over £65,000. She said they were facing significant costs that were not covered by insurance.  Giving the heartbreaking update after Lisa's death, she wrote: 'It is with the deepest sadness that we share the heartbreaking news that our beautiful Lisa passed away on the 28th of July 2026, surrounded by her loving family in Spain. 'Our hearts are completely broken, and there are simply no words to describe the pain we are feeling. Lisa fought so incredibly hard, and we are so grateful that her loved ones were able to be by her side, surrounding her with love until the very end.' Some of the funds donated would help the family to give Lisa the 'beautiful send off she truly deserves', Mia said. But she added that Simon remains in a critical condition, so asked for continued 'love, support and prayers'.   Mia concluded: 'From the bottom of our hearts thank you. Every donation, every share, every message and every prayer has meant more than words can ever express. Simon remains in a critical condition in hospital in Spain, and the family has asked for continued prayers The family is facing a number of costs that are not covered by insurance, with some of the raised funds going towards Lisa's funeral 'Your kindness has carried us through the darkest days of our lives, and we will never forget the love and support that has been shown to our family.' A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: 'We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.' The Almería fire that engulfed Lisa and Simon resulted in at least 13 deaths, 17 injuries, and 1,300 evacuations. It is the deadliest in the history of the province of Andalusia, and the third deadliest ever in Spain. The cause of the fire has not been confirmed, but witnesses reported that a downed power line sparked a fire that quickly spread to nearby trees.