Newlywed Irishman among those killed in Greek wildfires
● Couple were on their honeymoon ● Wife treated for burns in hospital
An Irishman has died while on honeymoon after becoming caught up in wildfires that have swept across Greece.
Newly married Brian O’callaghan-westropp became separated from his wife Zoe Holohan as they tried to escape the fires in the coastal town of Mati. The pair got married at Clonabreany House, Kells in Co Meath last Thursday before flying out to Greece on Saturday.
Ms Holohan, who works in advertising for a Sunday newspaper, is in hospital after suffering burns to her head and hands.
The families said in a statement: “We are deeply sadvery dened to confirm the death of our family member, Brian O’callaghan-westropp.
“The families would respectfully appreciate privacy at this time as we grieve and as Zoe makes her recovery.”
Ireland’s ambassador to Greece, Orla O’hanrahan, said her sympathies went out to his family at this time.
The couple, who lived in Dublin, were travelling in a vehicle when they were forced to flee. Ms Holohan was able to escape to a nearby beach, and was admitted to hospital on Tuesday night.
Mr O’callaghan-westropp worked in finance for a Dublin catering company and also volunteered for Blood Bikes East, which provides an emergency medical transport service around hospitals in Dublin.
Committee member Franco De Bonis said Mr O’callaghan-westropp started off as a volunteer rider a year ago and had become its secretary.
Mr De Bonis said: “Brian is a
0 Zoe Holohan is in hospital with burns to her head and hands
charitable man – he’s one of these people who you know when he’ s in the room. he has a big voice and he’s the type who wants to get things done.
“He’s a man of action and is very selfless. His heart is in the right place and will always want to help.
“Brian would never walk away from a situation knowing someone needed help.”
At least 79 people have died in the forest fires which have
raged through Greek villages and holiday resorts, with hundreds left injured.
There was no official indication as to how many people might be missing, and some took to social media and Greek television stations with appeals for information on their loved ones.
Survivors described dramatic scenes of people fleeing to beaches and being forced to swim out to sea despite gale- force winds and high waves to escape choking smoke and burning pine cones raining down into the water.
Fire service spokeswoman Stavroula Malliri said the death toll had increased by five to 79.
There were fears it would increase further as rescue crews gradually went through the hundreds of burnt homes, while others searched the coastline and the sea.
More than 280 firefighters were still in the area to the north-east of Athens in the wider Rafina area, dousing the remaining flames to prevent flare-ups. A further 200 firefighters backed up by a water-dropping helicopter were tackling the second forest fire west of the capital, near Agio it heodori,w here authorities pre-emptively evacuated communities overnight.
Flags across Greece flew at half-staff after the prime minister declared three days of national mourning.