A last minute decision meant Malcolm Timbrell survived one of Spain's deadliest wildfires ever, but his wife and friends were trapped by a wall of flames.

The blaze broke out late on Thursday in a semi-arid area near the Sierra de Los Filabres mountains in Almería province and has killed at least 12 people.

The couple were found semi-conscious with burns covering 40 percent of their bodies - and were incredibly able to call out to rescuers