A British tourist holidaying in the picturesque town of Los Alcázares in Spain’s Murcia region has spoken of the extreme heatwave gripping the country.

The Davis family, composed of mum Kate and kids Hamilton, 15 and Lottie, 12, had hoped for a refreshing and enjoyable summer holiday but found themselves battling temperatures of up to 45C instead.

Click here to read more of our live coverage of Europe’s record-breaking Cerberus heatwave

Speaking to Metro, Kate said the heat has caused them to alter their plans and grapple with the sweltering conditions, forcing them to cancel a day-long horse ride through the countryside out of concern for their own and the animals’ safety.

‘We had planned a trip to Cartagena yesterday, I was keen to see the Roman old town, and to go on a harbour cruise,’ said Kate, from Ascot, Berkshire.

‘Having arrived about 10am, it became evident that any sightseeing would have been rather unpleasant, so we stopped for a drink and decided to return to the pool. It’s a shame to have rather wasted the opportunity.’

The mum-of-two, who runs consultancy firm Meraki House, said the family were forced to adjust their beach visits to avoid the searing midday sun, instead opting for early mornings or evenings to make the most of cooler temperatures.

She added: ‘I am extremely concerned about the impact of climate change. We were speaking to an air conditioning engineer this morning who said he’s had record numbers of call outs as all the older units are failing.

‘They weren’t built to withstand the heat we are seeing, not just the soaring temperatures, but the regularity of the heatwaves too.

‘Apparently the ground temperature in Seville yesterday was 60C. That can’t be healthy for the planet, so we really need to consider our actions. 

‘We were just out at the shops and the kids were concerned about those who have no choice but to be outside – those who work outside, or the homeless. They stopped to give a homeless man some cold drinks, and he was so grateful he cried. I can’t imagine how it must be to not have any respite.’

Temperatures in Spain are currently dipping slightly as the country enjoys a brief respite from its second heatwave of the summer.

But the country’s state weather agency said another heatwave is expected to start on Sunday, with highest temperatures yet to come.

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