Spain floods: Dorset couple avoid brush with death

At least 140 people have been killed after flash flooding swept large areas of Spain.

Karen Loftus, 62, is the chief executive of Community Action Network, a charity dedicated to serving Dorset’s voluntary and community sector.

She and her husband were travelling to their home in Elche, near Alicante, at around 6pm on October 30 when the couple were suddenly hit by ‘extremely heavy rain’.

(Image: Karen Loftus.)

The couple escaped by crawling through their car window to avoid being trapped underwater before flagging down a nearby good Samaritan that drove them to safety.

Karen said: “We knew it was going to be raining but we're British, so we're used to the rain.

“We were on the motorway outside of Valencia and then the traffic drew to a halt.

“If we had stayed in our car, we would have been trapped and drowned.

“People were screaming and beeping their horns, it was absolutely terrifying.

“We were on the other side and the water started to come over and we were really worried that the water was going to break through and all the cars were going to crush us.”

The couple were saved by Sodil, a Moroccan lorry driver.

Karen added: “It was pitch black and we found this huge articulated lorry on the side of the road and thank goodness we did.

“We banged on the doors of the lorry and Sodil gave us chocolate biscuits, water and found towels and coats because we were freezing from the water.

“We drove in this huge lorry and went through at least five feet of water then all the lights went out.

“It was very dangerous thing to do. But he was our hero, he saved us.”

Karen said: “We are so lucky to be alive, an absolute nightmare is how I would describe what we've been through. We've lost everything.

“But we keep just looking at each other and saying, there are many people, nearly 100 people have died now and it wasn't our time.”

The couple are now stuck in Spain due to all roads in Valencia being closed.