Whakaari/White Island: Recovery teams leave island empty handed after search for bodies

Sunday, 15 December 2019

Deputy Commisioner Mike Clement gave an update on the recovery operation on Whakaari/White Island. The recovery team returned and went through a decontamination process.

The police recovery team are frustrated they weren't able to find any further bodies from Whakaari/White Island but will continue a water search.

The recovery teams have arrived safely back in Whakatāne from Whakaari/White Island just before 10.30am on Sunday after searching for one of two remaining bodies.

Police Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement has said that no further bodies have been recovered.

The recovery team goes through a decontamination process.

Deputy Commisioner Mike Clement gave an update on the recovery operation on Whakaari/White Island with the team unsuccessful in finding the two missing bodies.

* Whakaari/White Island: NZDF shows 'absolute courage' in an unpredictable environment

* Whakaari/White Island: Six bodies taken off island, two remain**

A police recovery team returns from Whakaari/White Island.

The New Zealand Defence Force divers and the police dive squad are working together and have recommenced searching for the missing bodies on Sunday afternoon.

A sixteenth person has died as the result of the eruption.

The recovery team could only spend 75 minutes on the Island due to their breathing apparatus.

The person, who had been taken home to Australia, died there on Saturday, a police statement said.

Police had confirmed four more names of those who died on Whakaari/White Island.

Tipene Maangi, 24, had only been a White Island tour guide for a few months.

Tour guide Tipene James Te Rangi Ataahua Maangi, 24, from New Zealand, while Australian's Zoe Ella Hosking,15, Gavin Brian Dallow, 53, and Anthony James Langford, 51, have all been identified as victims of the eruption.

Meanwhile, the process of identifying victims and releasing bodies to their families is ongoing in Auckland.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force helicopter takes off from Whakatane Airport to retrieve bodies from Whakaari/White Island on Friday.

'The rescue teams are frustrated. We understand completely how frustrating it is for loved ones who want the bodies back,' Clement said.

The search involved two pilots who are very familiar with the area.

Police divers prepare to search the waters near Whakaari/White Island off the coast of Whakatane, New Zealand on Saturday

Defence staff ground team have been swapped for police staff as the conditions on the island have reduced.

Everyone went out there absolutely desperate to find the bodies, Clement said.

Another man has died after the Whakaari/White Island eruption in December.

He confirmed they won't be giving up easily but admitted that there will come a time where they've done everything they can.

Clement said this whole situation is 'tough going for everybody'.

National Police Operation Commander, Deputy Commissioner John Tims, said recovery teams have returned to Whakaari/White Island.

'People who go on the island get exhausted very quickly due to all the gear and the conditions.'

Films such as Narnia, the Lord of the Rings and Mulan all used footage from Whakaari/White Island.

Today's search ruled out one area near the jetty they thought the bodies could possibly be.

'We are satisfied that the area we searched near the jetty is clear of the bodies.'

Clement said, yes, these recovery missions were costing money, but he didn't believe that to be an issue at the moment.

Two teams of four Search and Rescue and Disaster Victim Identification staff were taken to the island by helicopter early Sunday morning.

The team wore the same protective clothing as the eight NZDF personnel who were on the island on Friday. However, their breathing apparatus was different, and allowed them to only be on the island for 75-minutes.

Police deputy commissioner John Tims had earlier said the teams would search 'an area of the island where our best information suggests a body might be'.

'As with the first recovery operation, the plan is contingent on a range of risk factors which have been, and will continually be, assessed,' he said.

'We remain committed to finishing the task at hand and returning the two remaining bodies to their loved ones.'

A police helicopter was above the island providing support to the search teams, as were the two helicopters that dropped them off for the recovery mission.

A GNS scientist was on the police helicopter monitoring the volcano as the recovery teams conduct their search.

The police teams would have less time to search the island than the New Zealand Defence Force personnel who recovered six of the eight bodies on Friday, he said.

'They will be wearing the same protective clothing as the eight New Zealand Defence Force personnel who were on the island on Friday, however their breathing apparatus will be different, meaning they will only be able to stay on the island for up to 75 minutes.'

The official death toll after the Whakaari/White Island eruption is 16. Two victims are still unaccounted for. One was spotted in the water on Tuesday, with police dive teams searching for the unidentified victim on Friday and Saturday.

Tims said on Saturday that the nine members of the Police National Dive Squad were searching in contaminated waters with zero to two metres visibility.

'Divers have reported seeing a number of dead fish and eels washed ashore and floating in the water,' Tims said.

Fifteen victims remained in hospitals across New Zealand on Friday, 11 in a critical condition. Thirteen Australians have been transferred back to Australia to receive treatment, but the rare nature of the burns is challenging. The 16th person to die was one of those who had been flown back to Australia.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Friday that there was 'huge determination' to find the remaining two missing bodies.

Ardern said New Zealanders felt a duty to return the bodies to their loved ones.