This archive report was first published on 14 December 2019.
December 14, 2019, marked a turning point in the recovery efforts following the devastating eruption of White Island, a volcano off the coast of New Zealand. The island, also known as Whakaari, had been shrouded in toxic gas, making it a treacherous environment for rescue teams.
Eight members of New Zealand's special operations forces, six men and two women, embarked on a perilous mission to recover the bodies of six people killed in the eruption. The team, equipped with three layers of protective clothing and 33-pound rebreathing apparatuses, braved the knee-deep ash and boiling water underfoot.
According to Colonel Rian McKinstry, who oversaw the operation remotely, the troops on the ground could feel the volcano rumbling underneath them. The terrain was unlike anything they had experienced before, and the mission went on for hours.
‘It would be like wearing an oven mitt and holding a hot tray,’ Colonel McKinstry said, describing the experience of being in close proximity to the volcano. ‘You could feel the heat, even as you’re protected from it.’
The team spent two hours collecting the six bodies, trudging through the ash and constantly thinking about the volcano rumbling over their shoulders. However, they were unable to find the other two bodies, and were forced to abandon the search before their oxygen ran out.
The mission ended three and a half hours after it began, with team members dehydrated and vomiting. Despite the challenges they faced, the team's bravery and determination were evident in their ability to complete the mission.
