Whakaari/White Island eruption: Friends mourn loss of Australians killed after eruption

Thursday, 12 December 2019

A group of Australian friends say they are devastated after losing three members from their group who were on New Zealand's White Island when it erupted.

Jason Griffiths, 33, was rushed to hospital in a critical condition after the disaster on Monday and later died while 'surrounded by friends and family members'.

He was on the island with his friends Richard Elzer and Karla Mathews, who are believed also to have died but their bodies are among those yet to be retrieved.

Friends who were travelling with the trio on a cruise released a statement tonight saying they were devastated by their loss.

'On the 9th of December 2019, we were devastated by the news that three of our friends were visiting White Island on a shore excursion during the time of the eruption,' the statement said.

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Australian friends Jason Griffiths, Karla Mathews and Richard Elzer, who were on White Island when the volcano erupted.

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'Some time later, we discovered that two of our friends, Richard Elzer and Karla Mathews, were still on the island.

We have been advised that there are no signs of life on the island.

Julie and Jessica Richards' family have been told the pair died after Whakaari/White Island erupted on Monday.

'We then located our third friend, Jason Griffiths, in a hospital in the early hours of the next morning.

'We are incredibly saddened to have lost three of our closest friends.'

Gavin Dallow has died, while Zoe Hosking (right) is missing and presumed dead.

Four Australians are now confirmed to have died, including Griffiths, Gavin Dallow, and Julia and Jessica Richards.

Along with Elzer and Mathews, Dallow's step-daughter Zoe Hosking is amongst those suspected to have died but whose body has not been recovered.

The body of Dallow, 53 from Adelaide, was found and identified by New Zealand police.

The Dallow family said his stepdaughter, 15-year-old Zoe Hosking, was presumed dead and believed her body was still on White Island where the eruption took place.

The pair were on holiday with Dallow's wife and Zoe's mother, Lisa, who is in hospital in Hamilton.

'Gavin was a wonderful son and brother. We'll miss him at the cricket – I will, at least - and we'll miss him at the football,' his father Brian Dallow said today.

'He was a generous man, always helping his family and his community.'

Brian said the family are also devastated by the death of Zoe, Gavin's step-daughter.

'Our hearts break at the loss of Zoe at such a young age. We know her loss will also devastate her school community and the local Girl Guides of which she was an active member,' Gallow said.

- Nine News