Possible human remains found in car of Spain wildfire victims
The daughter of a British couple who died during July wildfires in Bédar, in Spain’s Almería province, said she found bones resembling human remains and personal belongings in her parents’ car. Danielle Gillam-Kirton claims that police had previously told her the vehicle had been thoroughly inspected and that there were no items inside.
As The Guardian reports, Pete and Fran Gillam died in their car during the fire. After the funeral, their daughter was allowed to inspect the burned-out vehicle herself while it was at a police impound lot in Mojácar.
Findings in the car
According to Gillam-Kirton, she saw a bone on the front seats which, in her view, could have been part of a human pelvis. Together with her partner, she also found other bones, her parents’ mobile phones, keys, jewellery, money and other personal belongings.
After a delay of several weeks, the bones were submitted for DNA testing. Forensic specialists to whom Gillam-Kirton showed photographs of the findings told her that the bones appeared to be human. Initially, she said, she had been told they could be animal remains.
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Gillam-Kirton is demanding explanations from the Spanish authorities and is asking the UK Foreign Office to seek answers from the Spanish side. She asked who or what was cremated after her parents’ deaths.
Demands from the families of the victims
The Gillams were among 14 people who died in the fires; the victims included citizens of Belgium, France, the United States and Spain. According to Gillam-Kirton, eight of those who died were British. The families of some victims are demanding a full, thorough and transparent investigation into the cause of the fire, the actions of emergency services, warnings and evacuation, as well as the handling of the remains and belongings of those who died.
Gillam-Kirton also said she helped another family organise a search on the hillside where their loved ones died. According to her, personal belongings and bones that may have been human were found there. She believes that search procedures and the preservation of evidence at the sites of the deaths were inadequate.
The UK Foreign Office said that investigations fall within the jurisdiction of the Spanish authorities and reported that it was supporting the family of the British couple. According to the publication, local authorities in Bédar received a request for comment.
