British couple, 78 and 58, are killed when Ferrari 488 careers off road into a river during rally through Spanish mountain highway

A British couple aged 78 and 58 have died in a horror crash in Spain after their Ferrari skidded off the road and plunged into a river.

The pair – who were driving with a UK number plate – were found on Saturday by rescuers in Boca de Huergano, northern Spain, in their £300,000 super car.

Earlier today the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed to MailOnline that the couple were British.

Tragic images show the black Ferrari 488’s remains laying in the Yuso river. 

They were reportedly part of a large envoy of around 20 other Ferrari owners taking part in the rally.

The group had arrived in Leon, in northwest Spain, the day before the crash.

Emergency workers were forced to hack their way through the thick plants and debris on the riverside before they could reach the car.

Alongside firefighters, the mission to recover the bodies of the couple took more than six hours, according to reports. 

Local media outlets said the couple were driving along the scenic N-621 highway prior to the accident.

Tragic images show the black Ferrari 488’s remains laying in the Yuso river

The standard Ferrari 488 GTB boasts almost 700 horsepower

The couple were reportedly part of a large envoy of around 20 other Ferrari owners taking part in the rally

The road is known for both its stunning views and twists and turns which can make for a challenging drive. 

At 1.47pm, police received a call saying that a car had overturned and was now partially submerged in the river. Several teams, including the Civil Guard

Medical personnel attending confirmed their deaths at the scene before one of the car doors was removed and the bodies were rescued.

It is unclear where the occupants drowned or died from their initial injuries. 

The Spanish Civil Guard told ILEON that the couple were a middle-aged English man and woman. 

An FCDO spokesperson said: ‘We are supporting the families of a British man and woman who died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.’