Australian ‘buried or lost’ on New Zealand’s White Island as Krystal Browitt confirmed dead
Melbourne vet nursing student Krystal Browitt has been confirmed dead by New Zealand Police as divers worked in near zero visibility off White Island to find two bodies —including one Australian — at the volcanic eruption site.
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Another Australian has been officially confirmed dead by New Zealand Police as navy divers struggled in difficult conditions around White Island to find another body authorities believe was trapped after the volcanic eruption.
At least one Australian remains buried or lost off the waters of the White Island volcano after a high risk recovery operation brought back six of eight missing people.
Police divers working in near zero visibility in contaminated waters.
Ash and other fallout from Monday’s eruption has made the sea near the island toxic and divers have to be washed clean after every completed dive.
Police Deputy Commissioner John Tims called search conditions “unique and challenging.” “Divers have reported seeing a number of dead fish and eels washed ashore and floating in the water. Conditions in the water today are not optimal with between zero and 2 metres visibility depending on location,” he said.
Police believe one of the missing bodies was sighted in the water close to the island by rescue teams on Tuesday, the day after the eruption. The location of the other body is not known.
Today, the volcanic tremor in the area was said to have declined “significantly”, according to the New Zealand Herald, and the Volcanic Alert Level remains at level two.
The search continues as Australian Krystal Browitt, 21, from Melbourne, was confirmed dead by police. She was celebrating her 21st birthday with her family on the Ovations of the Seas cruise ship. She is the ninth Australian who lost their life in the disaster.
Another person has also died tonight, bringing the official toll to 15. The person who died was being treated at Waikato Hospital.
Friends have paid tribute to the vet nursing student on social media, with one posting: “You were so compassionate and so much affection to give all the animals I saw you come across. I will miss seeing you in class but I hope you and [your sister] are catching up and are happily together again.”
Another wrote a poem: “We’ve talked of grief and sadness. For when a pet should die, And how to comfort strangers. When they say their final goodbye.”
A police statement said they would not return to a land-based search on the active volcano yet.
“Following the successful recovery of six bodies from the island yesterday, police and partner agencies are today analysing all information and assessing possible next steps,” police said in a statement, according to the NZ Herald.
“Today’s planning will allow us to return to the island to conduct further land-based searches for the remaining deceased, as the environment on and around the island allows.”
Deputy Commissioner Tims also warned anxious families and loved ones that the “process is stringent and can take some time”.
“This is a long and complex process and we are working as quickly as possible to return loved ones to their families,” he said.
A team of eight New Zealand Defence Force specialists went on to the volatile volcano at around 8am, wearing orange hazmat suits and breathing apparatus to recover the bodies.
Of the six bodies returned to the mainland, one of those has been confirmed as a New Zealand tour guide.
This means at the very least, one Australian – possibly two – remain buried or lost at sea after Monday’s eruption.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush said: “We do believe that at least one of them is in the water and the other one we are unsure, so that only leaves two possibilities … they’re on the island … or they too are in the water.”
But there was confusion today over the identity of the six recovered bodies with Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne stating that all six are Australian.
“We have been advised by the authorities that is expected to be the case,” she said.
However, at a later press conference New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said emphatically: “that will not be the case”, leaving the possibility that at least one Australian remains missing.
New Zealand’s deputy Labour leader Kelvin Davis said families of victims had spent time with the coffins containing their loved ones - despite not knowing who was inside each of them.
“It was just an opportunity - as they said - regardless of whether we’re from Australia or New Zealand or wherever, at that moment we’re one whānau and we’ll mourn everybody as if they are our own,” Mr Davis said, according to the New Zealand Herald.
White Island Tours issued a statement today saying it would “like to express our sincere condolences to the whānau (families) of those that were lost in the volcanic eruption which occurred on Monday 9 December and our sympathies to those who have been injured”.
“We extend our gratitude for the overwhelming offers of support and for the kindness we have received from around New Zealand and the world.
“Our focus and commitment remains on supporting those who have been directly or indirectly impacted by the tragedy at Whakaari/White Island including our manuhiri (visitors) and whānau.”
MINUTE OF SILENCE TO MOURN VICTIMS
New Zealand will hold a minute’s silence at 2.11pm on Monday, December 16, in honour of the victims of the White Island disaster.
nzherald.co.nz reports that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the tribute today.
“Wherever you are in New Zealand, or around the world, this is a moment we can stand alongside those who have lost loved ones in this extraordinary tragedy,” Ardern said, according to the New Zealand Herald.
“Together we can express our sorrow for those who have died and been hurt, and our support for their grieving families and friends.”
Meantime, the families of missing tour guides Tipene Maangi and Hayden Marshall-Inman were today headed out to the volcano by boat before dawn for a traditional service.
They were accompanied by members of three Australian families and the Australian High Commissioner Patricia Forsythe.
Australians missing on the island were mother Julie Richards, 47, and daughter Jessica, 20, from Brisbane; Zoe Hosking, 15, from Adelaide; Krystal Browitt, 21, from Melbourne and Richard Elzer, 32, and Karla Mathews, 32, from Coffs Harbour.
The Australian families did not identify who they had come to bring home but guide Tipene Maangi’s grandfather Ruku Tawahiorangi said: “I’m hoping that he’s one of the six”.
Police Deputy Commissioner Wally Haumaha said the families were “just absolutely ecstatic” the recovery process had gone so well.
“I don’t know if you heard the sighs of relief, the joy, the clapping and just the appreciation that this phase of the operation has been successful in terms of returning the six bodies off the island,” he said.
“They have got their loved ones coming home. And to be able to take them back to Australia … if that was your son or your daughter or my son or my daughter, what would you be thinking?”
The specialist military team of six men and two women was described as extremely courageous given the conditions of an imminent shallow magma eruption and toxic gas that since Monday had built up to where experts said one breath could be fatal or at least permanently damage respiratory systems.
After the six bodies were recovered they were flown into the airport at Whakatane where the families were able to spend time with the coffins – not knowing who was inside.
Tonight the six were choppered to Auckland for the coroner to begin a formal identification process.
BLESSING BEFORE RISKY MISSION
Before dawn, a White Islands tour boat slipped away from Whakatane wharf to return to White Island for the first time since the tragedy that unfolded from Monday afternoon.
On board were 31 people including police and local Maori elders but significantly Australian families who had arrived here to see the volcano that killed their loved ones.
They were accompanied by Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand Patricia Forsythe who sat with them at the bow of the vessel.
Some time later, a traditional Maori blessing was given to beg the island to give up its dead and remain peaceful while a body retrieval was under way.
Those on board have told News Corp Australia, the scene on deck was emotional to the extreme as a karakia and waiata incantation and song of mourning was wailed.
It didn’t matter that overhead military helicopters ran relay to deliver teams or equipment to the atoll and a navy warship anchored nearby, the seas were serene and the moment “magical”.
On board too was White Tours operator Paul Quinn who some blame for allowing visitors to the island despite increased warning it had become more unstable.
He said the voyage of return was emotional for him too but critically important for “Australian guests” on board.
On shore, Deputy Police Commissioner Mike Clement said the vessel was about 1km from the shore but it was an important side mission to the major operation, particularly for the Australians.
“It was very emotional as you could expect, I think people with a great sense of fulfilment were able to grieve close to their Whānau (family) and for those who don’t come from this place they saw something of the New Zealand culture and understand the way that we are and I think that was a fantastic opportunity for everybody. It was deeply emotional for everybody including police staff who were on the boat.”
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He said the volcano was behaving and weather conditions were good.
“Everybody has a rich appreciation of the bravery at work here,” he said.
Mark Inman, brother of local tour operator Hayden Marshall-Inman whose body is on the island, described the blessing and scene at sea as magical.
This was particularly the case as a fog rolled in.
“It’s all we ask, it was beautiful,” he said.
“It was a very powerful experience for families on board. It gave all the families out there on the boat some closure.”
The boat returned to shore about 8am.
On the shoreline of coastal village Whakatane from where the tour boats leave, more than a 100 people – mostly from the local Maori tribe – sang and played guitars to will the body recovery mission to success.
The scene built throughout the morning. There was a cheer when it was confirmed the specialist recovery team had made it ashore of the volcanic island.
Elder Teina Boasa-Dean said: “Today is really a ritual stage in the process of grieving and sending love and thoughts of care to the families.”
“It is also an opportunity to provide some healing to the local iwi (community).”