Tragedy as British backpacker dies in Australian bushfire trying to save his horse
A BRITSH backpacker was among four people who died in a massive bushfire in Western Australia.
The Briton was in a group of four people who died
The 31-year-old was working as a mechanic on a farm north of Esperance, near Perth, when he was engulfed by a wall of flame which tore through scrubland.
He was with two female backpackers, one from Germany and the other from Norway, who were trying to tow a horse float when they turned the wrong way down a smoke-filled road.
The bushfire has been raging near Perth in Western Australia
A local farmer also died in the blaze while warning neighbours of the fast-moving fire.
The backpackers were found dead in their car about 40 miles north of Esperance, which is in the far south of Western Australia.
The Bushfire was started by a lightening strike
Homes lost as bushfire rages out of control in Australia
Farm owner Linda Campbell told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the Briton, who had been working as a mechanic there since last November, had been trying to save his horse when tragedy struck.
Police have not formally identified the victims, but Ms Campbell said she had spoken to the British backpacker's family.
The bushfire was started when lightning struck in the Grass Patch and Salmon Gums areas.