 July 23, 2018. Almost five years ago to the day, my life changed dramatically. There's little escape from sadness this month, not least because I have to relive two painful events, beginning with my wedding anniversary on July 19, followed with agonising speed by the memory of my husband's death four days later, during wildfires that swept Greece. This year it has felt like an action replay, as I watch the destruction of that stunning country once more on the nightly news. The wildfires are back, raging with terrifying determination and all I can do is pray that this time around the toll of casualties will be far less than it was five years ago. It is for that very reason I would hope people would apply serious caution before deciding to visit Rhodes this month, and to reconsider their travel plans to any fire-torn regions in case they risk the kind of tragedy that befell me. I can't help but see many similarities between what's happening in certain parts of Greece and the wildfires that ravaged the seaside town of Mati, Athens, in 2018. Devastatingly, 104 people were killed that day and of those victims, one was my own beautiful husband Brian O'Callaghan Westropp. Brian was a hero to his dying breath, carrying several children in his arms to safety (Picture: Zoe Holohan) Even though I survived Mati, I didn't escape unscathed (Picture: Getty Images) Brian died right before my eyes just four days after we married. Never in my wildest nightmares did I imagine that our honeymoon, let alone our life together would end so abruptly. Brian was a hero to his dying breath, carrying several children in his arms to safety, which makes the fact that he was stolen from this world so suddenly all the more unfair. Of course unfair wouldn't be my first choice of words, but I'm trying to swear less these days. Evidently, I made it through the inferno, having been rescued from a burning car by a voluntee){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
July 23, 2018.
Almost five years ago to the day, my life changed dramatically.
There’s little escape from sadness this month, not least because I have to relive two painful events, beginning with my wedding anniversary on July 19, followed with agonising speed by the memory of my husband’s death four days later, during wildfires that swept Greece.
This year it has felt like an action replay, as I watch the destruction of that stunning country once more on the nightly news.