Christmas party on Death Island: How a group of lawyers celebrated festive season on volcano just two days before it erupted – and why their pictures could be crucial in working out how tourists died
- A group of lawyers celebrated their end of year Christmas party on White Island
- The group watched a geyser explode with mud and molten two days before
- On Monday the volcano erupted, killing up to 16 tourists who were on the island
A group of lawyers celebrated their end of year Christmas party on White Island just two days before the volcano erupted, killing up to 16 tourists.
Bill and Rita Nabney of Tauranga Chambers chose the adventure instead of the celebratory dinner they usually host for Christmas.
And when the eight lawyers arrived on the island, they saw one of the geysers suddenly explode, pushing burning molten and mud into the air.
The group filmed the volcano in action – footage which could be crucial for investigators trying to piece together what happened before the eruption.
Tauranga Chamber lawyers Bill and Rita Nabney took their staff to White Island for their Christmas party. Picture (L to R) Neil Boyes, Mechelle Boyes, Bill and Rita Nabney, David and Sara Weaver, Kevin Young and Toni Nickalls
White Island, also known as Whakaari, erupted at 2.11pm local time on Monday when 47 tourists were on or around the volcano crater (pictured: Tourists on a boat during the eruption)
‘We flew out there in two helicopters and walked about then we saw mud coming out of the side of the crater lake, similar to a geyser in Rotorua.
‘We at the time thought we were quite fortunate to see that. Of course now we are terribly sorry for the fatalities and people who have been injured. We do feel blessed we were standing on that spot 48 hours earlier. We never imagined.’
The group were given a safety briefing and were aware of the risks of travelling so close to an active volcano.
They were told of an emergency steel shelter – but it is not clear if any of the victims on Monday made it to the shelter.
Bill Nabney and Rita Nabney were on White Island with their staff just 48 hours before the eruption
Tourists were pictured waiting to leave the island following the volcanic eruption
During the briefing, the group were warned the threat level had risen to a two out of five, but were assured that if it got any higher tours would stop.
On Monday, just 48 hours after the group left the island, the volcano finally erupted, spewing ash, smoke and debris high into the air.
There are 16 people dead or presumed dead. Nine have been named by police while seven remain unnamed.
Dozens more are recovering in hospitals across New Zealand and doctors fear the death toll will rise.
Pete Watson, New Zealand’s chief medic, said it likely that ‘not all’ of the wounded will survive.
Police Minister Stuart Nash told RNZ: ‘As you can imagine there are a number in hospital who cannot communicate because they have had significant burns not only to skin but to internal organs.’
‘They cannot speak in any way, shape or form.’