Whakaari/White Island eruption: Badly burnt couple 'lucky to escape alive', family say

Wednesday, 11 December 2019

Surgeons at Middlemore Hospital are working around the clock operating on survivors from the Whakaari/White Island eruption.

A married couple from the United States have undergone surgery to clean their scorched skin after they were badly burnt in the White Island eruption

Fifty-one-year-old Ivy Kohn Reed from Massachusetts in the United States and her husband Rick Reed were injured in Monday's eruption.

Ivy Kohn Reed's brother, Marc Kohn, told Stuff on Thursday the couple had severe burns from the hot ash and had already undergone surgery to clean their 'scorched skin', but are expected to be OK.

Ivy Kohn Reed and Rick Reed, husband and wife from the United States, are recovering in hospital after being rescued from White Island and undergoing surgery to clean their burns.

'We hear about tragedies every day, and think how awful it is, but it will never affect me or my family. Well the other day we found out that a one in a billion chance hit our family,' he said.

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'They were lucky to escape alive . . . our family is feeling very thankful. We pray for the families of those that died tragically.'

Marc Kohn said the couple were on vacation to visit Reed's son, MIke and his family.

'The hardest part is being so far away and not being able to go see them and spend time with them--when they should be surrounded by family during this terrible period in their lives.'

Rick Reed's son, Mike, has posted a series of updates on Facebook about the couple's condition.

On Wednesday, he said he had spoken with both of them.

'They seem to be in relatively good spirits, given the horrific circumstances. Dad cracked a couple of jokes on the phone, always a good sign.'

Mike Reed said the couple were being moved to an after-care burn unit in Auckland.

'Once they have settled, I'll be sure to obtain updated information on length of stay and further operations. At this point, the medical staff has estimated at least a six-week stay in that facility.'

He earlier said Rick Reed suffered burns on over 30 per cent of his body, some were fourth degree burns on his hands, face and right leg.