ladbible homepage
ladbible homepage
  • Home
  • News
    • UK
    • US
    • World
    • Ireland
    • Australia
    • Science
    • Crime
    • Weather
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Film
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • Netflix
    • Disney
  • Sport
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Originals
    • FFS PRODUCTIONS
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Citizen Reef
  • Videos
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
British woman who miraculously escaped Spanish floods that have left at least 95 dead says 'split-second decision saved me'
Home>News>World News
Updated 07:42 31 Oct 2024 GMTPublished 07:30 31 Oct 2024 GMT

British woman who miraculously escaped Spanish floods that have left at least 95 dead says 'split-second decision saved me'

Karen Loftus, 62, from Dorset, says she and her husband are 'lucky to be alive'

Anish Vij

Anish Vij

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

A British woman who escaped Spain's deadly floods said a 'split-second decision saved me'.

The extreme flooding has taken the lives of at least 95 people so far as further storms are being forecast for tomorrow (1 November).

Karen Loftus, 62, from Dorset, told Sky News that she and her husband were hit by 'unbelievably heavy rain', on their way home to Alicante on Tuesday (29 October).

It was standstill traffic on the AP-7 motorway at around 6pm when Karen saw the bridge ahead being 'washed away'.

Advert

"A lorry went down the bridge, I don't know what happened," said the chief executive of UK-based charity Community Action Network.

Karen Loftus, 62, from Dorset, says she and her husband are 'lucky to be alive' (Steve Loftus)
Karen Loftus, 62, from Dorset, says she and her husband are 'lucky to be alive' (Steve Loftus)

Karen works remotely from her second home in the southeastern Spanish city of Elche.

After just 10 minutes, she said 'the water had risen up and started to come into the car' and that drivers were 'smashing windows to get out'.

Because of the pressure from the water, she and her husband were unable to open the car doors and they 'started to float and hit a lorry'.

Their only option was to climb out of the her car window before they were swept away by the floods.

"Just after we got out of the car, another car floated on top of our car," Karen explained.

"It was raging, cars were floating about, people were screaming.

The death toll is at least 95 and is expected to rise (David Ramos/Getty Images)
The death toll is at least 95 and is expected to rise (David Ramos/Getty Images)

"We thought we were about to be washed away so we ran up the road and it was pitch black dark.

"We banged on the door of the lorry."

Luckily, a 'fantastic' Moroccan driver picked them up.

She added: "We only just made it through.

"It was just like a disaster movie. You know when you think 'I could die here'. It was so utterly scary."

Karen has been staying in a hostel in Valencia, losing everything but her passport and her phone.

"We are not gone," she said.

"There are many families that aren't in our position.

"If we'd just stayed in the car I don't know what happened."

At least 92 deaths have been recorded in Valencia, with another two in Castilla-La Mancha and one in Malaga - a British man, 71, who died after being rescued from his home.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said: “For those who are looking for their loved ones, all of Spain feels your pain.

“Our priority is to help you. We are putting all the resources necessary so that we can recover from this tragedy.”

Featured Image Credit: Steve Loftus/David Ramos/Getty Images

Topics: World News, UK News, Weather

Anish Vij
Anish Vij

Anish is a Journalist at LADbible Group and is a GG2 Young Journalist of the Year 2025. He has a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management. Apart from that, his life revolves around the ‘Four F’s’ - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

X

@Anish_Vij

Recommended reads

‘Blank page’ passport rule that could see you banned from flightGetty Stock PhotoLandmark study makes ‘remarkable’ finding about Mounjaro side effectsGetty StockAll of these food items will get more expensive when Super El Nino hits, experts warn(Severe Weather Europe)Spanish people have ‘offensive codeword’ for BritsGetty Stock Photo

Advert

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
6 hours ago
  • Getty Stock
    4 hours ago

    Landmark study makes ‘remarkable’ finding about Mounjaro side effects

    It could be the biggest benefit of the GLP-1 drugs yet

    News
  • (Severe Weather Europe)
    4 hours ago

    All of these food items will get more expensive when Super El Nino hits, experts warn

    Changes in global weather will likely wreak havoc on crop harvests, driving up prices

    News
  • X/Dapper Laughs
    4 hours ago

    Comedian Dapper Laughs hits back at viral tweet claiming he'd 'relapsed during show'

    He's been sober for more than three years

    News
  • AFP via Getty Images
    6 hours ago

    Iran World Cup tensions heighten with 24-hour 'ban' and national team members denied entry to US

    The fans have also been told they cannot attend

    News
  • Update after British woman, 20, dies days after £2,500 botched weight loss surgery in Turkey
  • Everything we know about Texas floods that have killed at least 121 as Trump arrives at disaster site
  • Mum of missing British toddler in Greece issues latest update on new DNA test
  • British lad saved £1,000 learning to drive on YouTube and passed test first time