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25th Jul 2018

Irish Ambassador confirms death of Irishman in Greek wildfires

Kate Demolder

It’s understood that he and his new wife had been honeymooning just outside the Greek capital at the time.

The body of Irishman Brian O’Callaghan-Westropp has been found. It’s understood his remains were identified on Wednesday afternoon.

The news was confirmed by Irish ambassador to Greece, Orla O’Hanrahan in a video released to RTÉ.

“I am very sorry to confirm that we do have the death of an Irish citizen and it has been confirmed as Brian O’Callaghan-Westropp,” O’Hanrahan said.

“So our sympathies and hearts go out to his family at this time.”

O’Callaghan-Westhropp became separated from his wife Zoe Holohan as they tried to escape the fires in the coastal town of Mati, 18 miles east of Athens in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The fire broke out on Monday afternoon, with strong winds causing the fire to spread quickly towards the beach.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the death toll has hit 80 as rescue efforts intensified.

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