An 88-year-old British man has died in Cyprus after a fire engulfed his vehicle when it became stuck in mud along a dirt road.
Authorities said the man’s charred body was found outside the passenger door of the burnt-out vehicle alongside the remains of his dog.
The incident occurred near the village of Avgorou in the Famagusta District.
According to local media, the victim, who lived in Pachna, about 85 miles away, had travelled to the area with his female care worker and pet dog to visit an animal shelter.
Police believe the pair became lost and accidentally drove onto a muddy dirt road, where their vehicle became trapped.
Investigators said the elderly man repeatedly tried to free the vehicle’s wheels, but sparks generated during the attempt are believed to have ignited nearby dry reeds.
The fire spread rapidly, engulfing the vehicle before the man could escape.
His care worker managed to flee safely and reportedly urged him to abandon the vehicle.
However, the man told her to seek help while he remained behind.
Emergency responders later discovered his body during an inspection of the burnt vehicle.
His identity has not yet been officially released.
The tragedy comes as Cyprus continues to face an elevated risk of wildfires during the summer months.
According to Fire Service Chief and General Fire Coordinator Nikos Longinos, more than 1,450 outdoor fires have been recorded across the country since the beginning of the year.
Longinos said more than 90% of the fires were caused by human activity and noted that authorities were investigating several recent incidents believed to have been deliberately started.
Police have launched an investigation into the fatal fire.
