NZ volcano tragedy: Devastated Browitt family waits for news on missing Krystal

Melbourne mother remains at bedside of comatose daughter, while her youngest daughter is still missing.

Stephanie Browitt (left) is comatose in a New Zealand hospital following the White Island tragedy, while her sister Krystal is missing, presumed dead. Pictures: Supplied

Maria Browitt bade farewell to her family on Monday, choosing to stay behind on the cruise ship Ovation of the Seas while the rest of her family visited the volcano on White Island.

On Thursday, she remains beside the hospital bed of her eldest daughter Stephanie who is comatose and covered in burns.

Her youngest daughter Krystal, who barely a week ago turned 21, is among those still recorded as officially missing but feared to be among the dead.

Her badly burned husband Paul Browitt was flown from New Zealand to Australia without her on Thursday.

A friend of the grieving woman described her as kind and generous.

"She has a beautiful soul, very sweet, caring and nurturing," said the friend, who did not wish to be named.

Stephanie Browitt is comatose and covered in burns in a New Zealand hospital.

"Her daughters are her whole world, it's too tragic."

He said he had spoken to Maria over Facebook messenger with the grieving mother torn up about being the only one in her family left unharmed.

“She's blaming herself," he said. "It's hard, it's extremely hard."

Paul Browitt was one of the first to be airlifted. He was flown from Auckland to Essendon Airport in his native Melbourne before he was transported to The Alfred Hospital on Thursday morning, where there is a specialist burns unit.

His wife Marie remained in Christchurch with daughter Stephanie, but was scheduled to be transported home.

Private and military aircraft will have flow 12 Australian survivors home for specialist burns treatment by Friday, helping to alleviate New Zealand hospitals struggling after the tragedy.

Late on Thursday five patients were in Concord Hospital in Sydney’s west, three were at Royal North Shore, two were taken to the Alfred in Melbourne and two were in transit.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said some of the patients have life threatening burn injuries.

An injured person arrives at Victoria’s Essendon airport on Thursday. Picture: Paul Dowsley

“At this terribly sad time when we have lost fellow Australians, I commend the co-operation of both New Zealand and local health authorities to orchestrate the safe return of these patients who will receive the best care available,” Dr Chant said.

Krystal’s partner Daniel Czimmermann has rushed to New Zealand as search efforts continue.

Ms Browitt was studying veterinary nursing and posted videos of herself with a horse on her Facebook page.

She worked at Woolworths and on Thursday the supermarket giant said they were offering support to her colleagues as well as her partner.

“Our thoughts are with our team member’s loved ones at this difficult time.

“We’ve made contact with her partner and offered our assistance with travel costs to New Zealand,” the statement said.

Her older sister Stephanie, 23, was an aspiring actress and studied acting at the Howard Fine Acting Studio.

She worked part time at Target and the retail giant extended its condolences on Thursday.

“We will do all we can to support Stephanie and her family along with her fellow Target store teammates,” a spokeswoman said.

An Australian burns victim arrives by ambulance at Sydney’s Concord Hospital Burns Unit. Picture: Rob Quee

Mr Browitt worked as a senior investigator for Victoria’s State Revenue Office for man than thirty years.

State Treasurer Tim Pallas said the White Island disaster was a “tragedy” and extended his sympathies to the Browitt family.

“Our thoughts are with the Browitt family, their friends and the whole team at the State Revenue Office, where Paul has worked for more than thirty years,” he said.

“This was a tragic event, and we will ensure the best care and support for all those affected.”

There are eight Australians believed dead. They are Coffs Harbour couple Karla Matthews, 32, and Richard Elzer, 32, Jason Griffiths, Adelaide man Gavin Dallow, 53, whose 15-year-old stepdaughter Zoe Hosking is presumed dead. Her mother Lisa Dallow is fighting for her life in hospital.

A survivor at Sydney Airport. Picture: AAP

Brisbane mother and IT developer Julie Richards, 47, and her vet science student daughter Jessica, 20, are also confirmed to be among the deceased.

On Thursday, Knox Grammar students Matthew Hollander, 13, and his brother Berend, 16, died in hospital. Their parents Barbara and Martin remain unaccounted for.

Sydney family Anthony and Kristine Langford along with children Jesse, 19, and Winona, 17, remain missing.