Lost in the inferno
Holiday bridegroom dies and his new wife is burned in wildfire horror Greece resort death toll hits 80 and there are dozens still missing
A HONEYMOONER has been killed in the wildfire inferno in Greece that has claimed at least 80 lives.
Brian O’Callaghan-Westropp died after being separated from new wife Zoe Holohan as they tried to flee the flames.
The Irish couple, in their 40s, had jumped in a passing car but were forced to abandon it and run.
Some Brits were reportedly rescued by a flotilla of small boats in what some have called a “Greek Dunkirk”.
Marketing executive Zoe was last night in hospital recovering from burns.
Dozens are thought to still be missing, and more than 180 people have been injured. Brian’s friend Franco De Bonis described the charity man as “selfless”. He added: “Brian would be the type of person who would ensure Zoe is safe then go back to help others.”
Franco said the Dubliner was “happy to give his time to others and happy to think of others first”.
A statement from the newlyweds’ families said: “We are deeply saddened to confirm the death of Brian O’Callaghan-Westropp.”
Brian worked for a Dublin catering company and volunteered for a charity which provides emergency medical transport around the area’s hospitals.
The couple wed last Thursday in Co Meath north of Dublin and were staying in the seaside resort of Mati when it was engulfed. Many people who waded into the water to avoid approaching flames at the village 18 miles east of the capital Athens were picked up by rescue boats.
Families have put photos of missing loved ones online. Ambulance chiefs warned there is little hope of finding anyone alive in the burnt-out buildings.
One dad, Yiannis Philippopoulos, said his twin girls were still missing.
He added he saw the nine-year-olds alive on TV news footage as they got off a fishing boat that had rescued them.
But he has not heard from them or their grandparents, who had been with them earlier that day.
Yiannis said the footage gave him hope his children are alive.
The rescue boat captain said names of saved people were recorded as they disembarked. Emergency crews were stretched to the limit overnight with around 200 firefighters tackling a second forest blaze, west of Athens, where three communities were evacuated.
Officials said the total death toll could exceed 100. Around 24 children are among the injured.
Tourists caught up in the blaze included a British man who has been treated for burns.
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said his nation is “going through an unspeakable tragedy”. He has declared three days of national mourning.
The death toll has surpassed the 77 who were killed by wildfires on the southern Greek island of Evia in 2007.