Whakaari/White Island eruption: Family 'heartbroken' by brothers' deaths

Thursday, 12 December 2019

Matthew Hollander, left, and Berend Hollander, right. The boys are confirmed dead after the White Island eruption.

The family of two teenage boys who died as a result of injuries suffered in the White Island eruption are 'absolutely heartbroken'.

Sydney family, Barbara and Martin Hollander and their children Matthew, 13, and Berend, 16, were unaccounted for following Monday's eruption at Whakaari/White Island.

Barbara Hollander and Martin Hollander are missing. Their two sons, Berend and Matthew died in hospital from their injuries.

The teenagers attended Knox Grammar School. Martin Hollander, the freight initiatives manager at Transport for New South Wales, is a former pupil.

On Thursday morning, the school confirmed to Stuff both boys had died in hospital as a result of their injuries.

Berend Hollander's engaging smile and quirky sense of humour made him a good mate to his close group of friends and a welcome member to every classroom, his school said.

Matthew Hollander, 13, died in hospital on Wednesday.

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In a statement on behalf of the Hollander family, a Knox Grammar School spokesman said the family were 'absolutely heartbroken by this loss'.

'Ben and Matthew were wonderfully kind and spirited boys who lived short but very fulsome lives.

'They loved Knox and all their friends, and the Australian sports and outdoor lifestyle they adopted on moving from the United States six years ago. They had a positive and lasting impact on everyone's paths they crossed.'

The spokesman earlier said Matthew was a 'vibrant' member of the school.

Matthew was actively involved in cadets, and represented the school in basketball, squash and debating. He was elected as a mentor representative this year and enjoyed history and Personal Development, Health and Physical Education.

'With a close circle of friends, Matt has been popular amongst his peers. Matthew has always been enthusiastic about life and involved in many school and year group activities.'

Berend was 'actively engaged' in sport and co-curricular actives at the school, developing a passion for AFL, cadets and his biggest passion, baseball.

'Berend's engaging smile and quirky sense of humour has made him a good mate to his close group of friends and a welcome member to every classroom.'

The boys' parents were currently unaccounted for.

'Please keep the family, their relatives and the rest of the Knox community in your prayers and thoughts. Please do everything you can to support the boys and each other at this difficult time for our community,' headmaster Scott James told parents in an email on Wednesday night.

In a letter to parents on Tuesday, James said it was 'with a heavy heart' he could confirm the family were unaccounted for following the eruption.

'[The family] were on holiday in New Zealand and are currently listed as missing.

'We are in close contact with the relatives and they are providing us with updates.'