Whakaari volcano victim dies in Melbourne hospital, bringing death toll to 18

One of the three victims of last year's New Zealand volcano eruption in Melbourne's Alfred hospital has died, taking the official toll to 18.

Tourists react onbaord a tender boat as the volcano erupts.

Tourists react onbaord a tender boat as the volcano erupts. Source: Twitter / Michael Schade

Another victim of the New Zealand volcano eruption has died in a Melbourne hospital.

New Zealand Police confirmed the overnight death in a statement on Monday morning, bringing the official death toll to 18 and two more people still missing.

"Police can confirm a further person died in an Australian hospital last night as a result of injuries suffered in the Whakaari/White Island eruption," the statement reads.

"The death of this person brings the official number of deceased to 18, 16 of whom died in New Zealand and two in Australia."

The person had been a patient at The Alfred, the hospital confirmed on Monday.

Two more people remain in the same hospital, one in a critical condition the other stable, following the eruption on December 9.

The three patients were flown to Melbourne on December 12.
Families of victims of the White Island eruption embrace after arriving back to the Whakatane wharf following a blessing at sea.
Families of victims of the White Island eruption embrace after arriving back to the Whakatane wharf following a blessing at sea. Source: AAP
Melbourne woman Krystal Browitt died on the island, while her father Paul and sister Stephanie were injured.

The family, along with mother Maria, had been on a cruise on the liner Ovation of the Seas.

Mr Browitt and his daughters went on the tour of the volcano site, while his wife remained on board the ship when tragedy struck.

A GoFundMe page for the family has raised nearly $76,000.


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Published 13 January 2020 11:28am
Updated 22 February 2022 6:50pm



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