Whakaari/White Island eruption: Trip of a lifetime turns to horror for family of four

Thursday, 12 December 2019

For Melbourne's Browitt family - mum Marie, father Paul and daughters Stephanie and Krystal - the 13-day cruise of the towns, sounds and seas of New Zealand was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime.

The hard-working Australian family had saved long and diligently to board Ovation of the Seas from Sydney on December 4, a family friend said.

But a week later, Paul and Stephanie are believed to be in comas in hospitals with severe burns, and Krystal, 21, is among the Australians listed as missing and believed to be on Whakaari/White Island.

Devastated mother and wife Marie, a massage therapist by trade, stayed behind on the ship on Monday when her family took a day trip to explore the island's active volcano.

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Authorities hold little hope of finding survivors when conditions improved to a point that it was safe enough to reach the island.

The family friend hasn't yet been able to reach Marie, but has set up a GoFundMe account to help them with the costs of recovery and lost income.

'The reason I shared this page is I'm helpless, I can't do anything from here,' he said.

'They're just a lovely typical suburban family. (Marie) is the most loveable and likeable person, who really needs support. She wouldn't hurt a fly. This is our chance to help them.

The family friend, who had taken the same trip just two weeks before the Browitt family, said they were excited about their holiday and he had spoken to Marie Browitt about it.

'We were talking about how much they were going to enjoy the hospitality, entertainment, buffets and everything it has to offer,' he said.

'They're a working-class family. You don't save up to go on a wonderful holiday and expect something like this to happen.'

Her Facebook page showed she studied veterinary nursing. She also worked for Woolworths.

The company released a statement on Wednesday saying their 'thoughts are with our team member's loved ones at this difficult time'.

'We've made contact with their families and have offered to assist with travel over to New Zealand.' the statement said.

'We're also offering our support to their colleagues, who are understandably shaken by the news.'