A personal trainer was one of four Britons who were caught taking selfies near La Palma’s erupting volcano. They later revealed that they were trying to save dogs.
Seb Jones, 33, told MailOnline he and his muscled friends Andy Flavell, Tom Whaite and Zack Hurley, responded to social media campaigns to rescue the animals trapped near the flowing lava and rushed to save them.
Their daring rescue mission was stopped by falling smoke and ash that started to burn the rescuers, before they were caught by police.
Local media reports that the explorers could face legal action for putting their lives, and the lives of security officers, at risk.
Seb, who also owns Oldham Driveways said that he and his friends are big animal lovers, especially dogs, and they saw on social media all the petitions to get the dogs from El Paso and what had happened to them.
Seb Jones (pictured), 33, who was one of four Britons caught breaching police checkpoints to take selfies near the erupting volcano on La Palma has revealed they were trying to save stranded dogs
The group responded to social media campaigns to rescue the animals trapped near the flowing lava and rushed to save them, Seb (right) revealed
“We are all strong hikers and adventurers. We liked the idea of the volcano so it was perfect.
“We knew that we could get in and get near. We underestimated the extent and difficulty of the damage.
The group took photos near the rivers of molten lava spewing out from the Cumbre Viejo volcano. It has been erupting continuously for more than a month.
They had just left Tenerife to go to La Palma by ferry. However, the ferry was delayed for three hours and they were unable to see the trek in daylight.
Seb said: ‘As soon as we landed off the ferry we drove our hired car to the affected area of La Palma, the sky was was blood red and you could hear the roar of the volcano over the car’s engine as you drove toward the town.’
According to local media, the explorers who risked their lives and the security services’ lives are now facing possible court action.
According to Seb they reached the base the volcano’s summit after four hours.
A gym fan stated that the roads were covered in ash even six-miles from the volcano. They kept coming across roadblocks and army patrols and decided to walk through the woods instead.
Seb said: “The energy coming from the volcano was like something out a film, it felt a rush and it gave me the extra boost I needed to get through the rescue mission ahead.”
According to the animal vigilante the group hiked through the forest for two hours, wading through ash three feet deep.
They stayed on the roads and struggled to find any dogs, but were shocked to be confronted with torches shining in their faces by Spanish patrols.
He claimed they would pose for photos when they saw an eruption and described the scenes in horror.
According to Seb they reached the base the volcano’s summit after four hours.
He stated that the air was thick as bleach or something and that it was impossible to breathe in. It was like we were all choking.
“Obviously not prepared for the real danger, we wrapped T-shirts around ourselves and ventured up the hill towards an erupting volcano core!”
“Whenever a volcano erupted heavy ash fell from heaven, burning any skin it touched. We were now taking cover under the remaining burnt trees on the volcano to escape the ash falling. This was the danger zone!
They were surrounded by rocks and decided to abandon their rescue mission.
People watch Cumbre Vieja volcano spew lava and smoke as it continues to erupt every Friday
More than a year after the volcano erupted, lava continues to flow through the islands.
Two people witness the volcano eruption from El Paso municipality on Friday, one week after the four rescuers attempted to rescue them.
Seb said, “We were really struggling for breath at this point so I took our last photos and headed down towards the houses that still stood to carry on our search for the abandoned dogs in El Paso.”
‘When you got to the bottom of the road, there were faint sounds of dogs barking and yelping from all directions. Some were close to others, while others were further away. However, the constant roaring volcano makes everything sound overwhelming.
They stayed on roads, but couldn’t find any dogs. Then they were startled when torches were thrown in their faces by Spanish patrols.
Seb stated, ‘They had guns and full respirator-type masks on. They were aggressive and pushed us against a wall, shouting at us in broken English that we couldn’t understand.
“There were four of us, and two of them so they started shining torches in their faces which seemed like shock to them and they kinda backed off.
More than 2,000 buildings and 1,300 homes have been destroyed by the eruption since September 19.
About 6,000 people, out of an island population totaling 83,000, were evacuated from their homes.
“We are all very well built but we also know that we are not above the law. We thought we were under arrest, so once everything calmed down, we agreed to explain what we were doing and that we had obviously lost.
“They threatened to seize our passports and marched straight back out the exclusion zone.”
They were able find their car via Google maps, but it was only a two-hour walk away. There was not enough time to catch the ferry from Tenerife.
Seb expressed regret over the unsuccessful rescue mission of the dogs, despite their run-ins with the law.
He stated that the walk home was hard and tiring, and that he was disappointed about the dogs. But, he said that he couldn’t believe a volcano had been climbed and seen.
“It is almost inconceivable how much energy and power this volcano can produce. It is clear to see the extent of destruction it has caused to an island.
Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish Prime Minister, had previously stated that he would rebuild the island and added that it was safe for tourists.
Since the authorities began investigating, the “lava louts” have boasted about being wanted and arrested by police
“Miles long, miles wide, of just moltenlava as far as the eye can see. It’s madness. Everything has turned black with ash. The air is poisonous.
After their return, the group posted photos online of their trip, saying that they had to cover to sneak around the army and police. It was a complete SAS mission with roadblocks as well search points and animals to be rescued in pitch black.
The group’s close-up footage and photos are believed to have been used to identify the daredevil group by Civil Guard officers in La Palma.
Since the authorities began investigating, the “lava louts” have boasted about being wanted.
Zack wrote online: ‘F** me I’m Spain’s most wanted now, all over the local news. These men are desperate for a MINUTE!
‘I’ve been receiving pure s*** for two days now, death threats the lot, wishing me Mam dead and telling me I have a square head hahaha.
In the first volcanic eruption since 1971, thousands of homes and buildings were destroyed.
‘I said to them “I’ve not f***ing lit it, I just went up for a look” ……. It was not something I was doing to be disrespectful or laughing at, it’s a wonder the world at the conclusion of the day.
Andy Flavell, a Durham security guard, stated online that he was La Palma’s most wanted. He said, “Listen, we didn’t hurt anyone, any animals, nor did we put out any emergency service nothing.” We didn’t lite [sic]Make it worse or the volcano.
“Just wanted to see mother nature at work with our own eyes. And we did!
“Been receiving hate.. we went to La Palma one week ago. They have a lot more to deal with than the 4 of us who went LAST WEEK.
As locals warn that an aid crisis is coming to their community, more than 2,000 homes and 1,300 buildings have been destroyed by the eruption since September 19.
Out of an island population of 83,000, approximately 6,000 people were evacuated.
MailOnline reached out to the Guardia Civil in order to get their comment.