Zoe’s injuries mean she can’t come home for up to two months
ZOE Holohan is expected to remain in Athens for up to two months as she recovers from the injuries she suffered during the horrific blaze that killed her husband.
While on honeymoon in the Greek resort of Mati, Zoe and Brian O’Callaghan-Westropp were caught up in the inferno that claimed the lives of at least 88 people.
According to the Sunday World, where Zoe worked in the advertising department, she underwent her first medical procedure on Friday, as she took the first step in her long road to recovery.
The couple arrived at the resort west of Athens on Saturday, July 21, just two days after their wedding in Kells, Co. Meath.
However, within a few days, wildfires near the resort grew out of control and swept through Mati.
It is believed that the couple abandoned their rental home in the early hours of Tuesday as the blaze moved closer, and tried to flee the area on foot after their rental car failed to start.
The newspaper reported yesterday that the pair came across a driver who was attempting to leave the scene.
The car was full of adults and children hoping to be rescued, and the Irish couple got into the boot.
Sadly, Brian was lost during the journey.
Brian’s heartbroken mother Rosemary has since flown to Greece in order to claim her son’s body and bring him home to Ireland. It has yet to be confirmed when his body will be returned to Ireland, but it is believed that his funeral is not expected to take place for a number of weeks.
A close family friend told the Irish Daily Mail last week that Zoe was anxious to be released from hospital so that she could return home with Brian and continue her recovery in Ireland.
However, it is now understood that she may remain in Athens for the next two months receiving medical treatment.
The tragic groom was originally from Killaloe, Co. Clare, but lived in Dublin where he worked as an operations and HR manager at catering company, Ready Chef.
Fr Arnold Rosney, parish priest of St Senan’s Parish, Shannon, said that the community there was devastated by Brian’s death. ‘A lot of parishioners would fondly remember him and his family,’ he told the Mail. ‘Everyone is just so shocked and upset… it’s a terrible tragedy for anyone but particularly on honeymoon and where it happened.’
A book of condolences has been set up in the church, and so far there has been a ‘huge turnout’ of people signing it to pay their respects.
Fr Rosney said the parish had wanted to ‘do something small and simple just to show solidarity’ to Zoe and the O’CallaghanWestropp family. ‘That’s all we can do at times like this, to send a message and let them know we are thinking of them,’ he said.
A GoFundme page has been set up by Brian’s classmates in an MBA degree he was studying for. It was set up to raise money for his widow, and had raised €6,000 by last night.
The inferno devastated Mati and surrounding areas, and many people remain missing.
Authorities in Greece now believe that the blaze may have been started deliberately.
‘We want to show our solidarity’