- In 2019, the White Island volcano in New Zealand erupted, tragically resulting in the death of 22 individuals.
- A helicopter pilot shared in court on Thursday that he and two of his passengers managed to escape by jumping into the ocean to avoid the ash cloud.
- However, two other passengers were unable to reach the water in time and suffered severe burns.
A helicopter pilot gave his testimony in a New Zealand court on Thursday, recounting how he and some of his passengers managed to survive a devastating volcanic eruption in 2019 by taking refuge in the ocean.
According to The Associated Press, Brian Depauw stated, “The water is what saved us.” On December 9, 2019, Depauw and his four passengers were on White Island (Whakaari), New Zealand’s most active volcano, when it suddenly erupted, resulting in the tragic loss of 22 lives.
Depauw’s testimony was part of an ongoing trial involving multiple tourism companies and directors who are accused of negligence in assessing and mitigating the eruption’s risks and failing to adequately warn tourists. Despite prior indications of a potential eruption, tour operators allegedly overlooked the warnings.
The trial, which commenced on Tuesday, is expected to span four months.
Depauw clarified in court that he was piloting a flight for Volcanic Air, a tour company not implicated in the case. As the eruption unfolded, he made the decision to guide his passengers towards the water instead of returning to the helicopter.
Based on a video presented in court, Depauw recalled, “I heard my customer saying should we run now? I looked behind me and saw the plume going up 1,000 or 2,000 feet (305 or 610 meters) high, I saw boulders and debris arcing toward us, so I said: ‘Run, run, run to the water. Follow me.'”
While Depauw and two passengers successfully reached the water, two others were unable to do so in time and suffered severe burns from the ash cloud. The water acted as a protective barrier for those who made it into the ocean.
Depauw shared his experience, stating, “The minute I hit the water, it went black. The ash came and obviously hit us, and I couldn’t see anything. It would be a minute or two minutes. I was underwater trying to hold my breath as long as I could until I saw some light through the ash.”
During his testimony, Depauw expressed his belief that there would be visible signs and sufficient time for evacuation in the event of an eruption. He also mentioned his unawareness of the volcano’s previous eruption in 2016, which fortunately didn’t cause any injuries. Prior to that, White Island experienced smaller eruptions in 2012 and 2013. From 1975 to 2000, the volcano was in a state of near-constant eruption.
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