American couple suing after Whakaari/White Island eruption

Tuesday, 30 June 2020

An American couple are suing their cruise and tour company after suffering severe burns in the Whakaari/White Island eruption.

The lawsuit alleges the Royal Caribbean cruise and ID Tours New Zealand were negligent in not informing them about the potential dangers of visiting the volcano.

The explosion on December 9 claimed 21 lives, with 47 people on the island at the time of the eruption.

Matthew and Lauren Urey were on their honeymoon and said previously the physical and emotional toll of the eruption was horrendous.

**READ MORE:

* US eruption survivors to file lawsuit against cruise operators and White Island Tours

* Whakaari/White Island victims suing Royal Caribbean in Australia

* Whakaari/White Island: More injured tourists to go home in January

**

Matt received burns to more than half of his body, including his hands.

He underwent a three-hour surgery and had to receive skin grafts and plastic surgery.

Lauren also suffered extensive burns to her neck, legs, stomach and face. Her lungs were badly affected from the toxic gases in the eruption.

The couple's lawyer, Michael Winkleman, told Breakfast on Tuesday he had filed the lawsuit.

All the couple were told prior to going on White Island was it was an active volcano, he said.

'What they didn't tell them, and what they had a duty to tell them, was there was the heightened risk in the weeks leading up to it.'

He said both companies had a duty to warn them there was that increased risk.

He has represented a number of these cases before, involving suing from another country, where he had been successful, but said this was a unique case.

In the future, he said New Zealand's tourism industry should inform people more of the risks associated with activities.

In terms of White Island, he said the couple should have been told what GeoNet data showed around heightened volcanic activity, so they could make an informed decision.