Final two missing after Whakaari/White Island eruption confirmed dead by coroner

Thursday, 23 January 2020

The two people missing after the Whakaari/White Island eruption have been confirmed dead by the Chief Coroner.

White Island Tours guide Hayden Marshall-Inman, 40, and Australian teenager Winona Langford, 17, had been missing, presumed dead.

The Chief Coroner ruled that both died on Whakaari, Police National Operations Commander Deputy Commissioner John Tims said in a statement.

That brings the total death toll to 20, a police statement said.

**READ MORE:

* Whakaari/White Island: Police officially name two still missing following the eruption

* Whakaari/White Island: Tour guide Hayden Marshall-Inman was heading back to help people when he died

* Whakaari/White Island eruption: Family of four among group of tourists still missing

* Whakaari/White Island: Hero tour guide 'in his happy place'**

Eighteen of those people died in New Zealand, and two in Australia.

Marshall-Inman was on his 1111th trip to Whakaari on the day of the eruption, December 9.

He is believed to have died on his way back to help tourists on the island during the eruption.

At his funeral, his father, Alan Marshall-Inman, said he lost his son as a hero.

'We know he was the last man off that island. You have done New Zealand proud.'

Hayden was a lifeguard, devoted uncle, godfather, youth camp counsellor, donor to charities and an avid fan of paying it forward, those who gathered to remember him heard.

Langford was on the island with her parents Anthony and Kristine, who were killed in the eruption, and brother Jesse, 19, who was hospitalised after the eruption.

His eulogy for his family members was read at their funeral, which he watched from his hospital bed, through a live feed.

He wanted his family to be remembered for their loving values rather than as 'the people who died on the volcano'.