The family of an Australian school-girl whose parents were killed during the White Island volcano eruption have been left devastated again after the search for her body has been called off.
Sydney teen Winona Langford, 17, was celebrating her father Anthony’s 51st birthday on-board Ovation of the seas with her mother Kristine and older brother Jesse, 19 when the dream family holiday turned into unimaginable tragedy after the family visited White Island for a day trip.
Her parents were both killed by the blast and Jesse is recovering in hospital after having 90 percent of his body severely burnt.
Hopes have been dashed for the family of Sydney school-girl, Winona Langford, 17 after the search for her body has been called off
New Zealand tour guide Hayden Marshall-Inman also remains missing following the White Island volcanic eruption
New Zealand tour guide Hayden Marshall-Inman, 40, also remains missing following the eruption on December 9.
Police believe their bodies have washed out into the waters surrounding White Island.
The desperate families have had their hopes dashed of ever finding their bodies the search was ‘suspended’.
‘This decision follows extensive shoreline and substantial aerial searches from east of White Island to north of Cape Runaway,’ said Bay of Plenty District Commander, Superintendent Andy McGregor.
‘Sadly no further items of significance have been located.
‘Police remain ready to respond if new information comes to light’ he added.
The volcano on White Island, New Zealand, unexpectedly erupted on December 9, while passengers from cruise ship, Oasis of the seas were visiting in a day trip
Mr Marshall-Inman was leading tourists on an ill-fated day trip and never made it to rescue boats ferrying horribly burned survivors to shore.
His family were desperate to his body when rescue efforts were stalled last week die to safety concerns.
His brother, Mark Inman, wrote a letter to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern pleading to do the job himself.
‘We met yesterday concerning my brother Hayden who is still on White Island 44 hours after the explosions,’ he wrote.
‘With the current conditions of sunshine baking and decomposing his body, he’s going from a situation where we could have an open casket to now more likely not having a body at all – due to your government’s red tape and slow decision making.
‘I am writing to ask for a pardon for my actions of a personal recovery.’
The news comes as the families of American newlyweds who were severely burned during the deadly White Island volcanic eruption have thanked the public for their support.
The bodies of Winona Langford, 17, and Hayden Marshall-Inman, 40 are believed to have drifted out to sea in the waters surrounding White Island
Lauren Urey, 32, and her husband Matthew Urey, 36, were celebrating their honeymoon on board Ovation of the seas when they visited White Island shortly before the unexpected eruption.
The couples families said while the experience had been ‘horrible’ they felt ‘very lucky’ that the newlyweds had survived in a statement released by New Zealand Police on Tuesday.
While acknowledging there was an ‘endless list’ of people to thank, the families said they were ‘eternally grateful’ to the healthcare professionals who saved them.
‘We also want to thank the generous, kind, and caring people of New Zealand who have offered to help in every way possible, the Police Department who have dedicated a team of wonderful individuals to help us in whatever way they can, and the American Consulate for their continued support,’ they wrote.
‘They (Laura and Matthew) are progressing as well as could be hoped for given the severity of their injuries, but they both have a tremendously difficult and long road to recovery ahead of them.
‘We ask that you continue to send positive thoughts and prayers their way; they need them.’
A GoFundMe has been set up by friends of the couple to support them as they are expected to both need an extended period off work while they recover.
The families of American couple Laura and Matthew Urey have thanked the public for their support following them being severely burnt while honeymooning in New Zealand.