A FORMER Scottish Premiership star and his team-mates escaped death on Sunday night as wildfires swept through Portugal.
Ex-Hearts defender Dylan McGowan, who left Tynecastle after six-years in 2014, is now playing for Pacos de Ferreira in the Primeira Liga.
But as he and his colleagues travelled home from a Portuguese Cup clash at Academica Coimbra on Sunday they came too close for comfort with the ravaging blaze that has left 27 people dead.
The team bus they were travelling on took over four hours to make the 90-mile journey back as they dodged to inferno terrorising the country.
Pacos technical director Paulo Goncalves revealed: “It was a very tiring journey.
“We had to zig-zag down country roads almost all of the way due to the fires and diversions.
“We came close to the fires at times.
“We could see from the smoke and flickering flames just how big they were.”
McGowan, 26, was not in the starting XI for the match his side lost 2-1 after extra-time.
He has only made two appearances for Pacos since his arrival from Adelaide United in his homeland in the summer.
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McGowan appeared 64 times for the Jambos during his time in Scotland and another 23 for East Fife on-loan.
He also has one cap for his country.
Pacos are managed by Vasco Seabraa and are nicknamed Os Castores – translated as The Beavers.
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