Pilot recounts life-and-death moments when New Zealand volcano erupted

When the White Island volcano erupted in 2019, pilot Depauw and two passengers had to decide whether to run into the sea or return to the helicopter to avoid disaster.

The Auckland Court, New Zealand on July 13 opened the trial of the directors of three travel companies on charges of violating safety regulations, leading to the deaths of many tourists in the volcanic eruption on White Island on December 9, 2019.

At the time the volcano erupted and emitted a column of ash about 3.6 km high, 47 tourists were on the island, of which 22 died, 25 survivors were severely burned.

Testifying in court, pilot Brian Depauw, born in Belgium, said he and two passengers on the helicopter escaped by running into the sea. "The water is what saved our lives," Depauw said.

White Island volcano, New Zealand, erupts on December 9, 2019. Photo: AFP — White Island volcano, New Zealand, erupts on December 9, 2019. Photo: *AFP*

Depauw had been hired by the tour company Volcanic Air about three or four weeks before the tragedy. It was his first unsupervised helicopter flight, taking two German couples on a tour of White Island.

"If you see me running, follow me," he joked with four passengers as he announced the safety rules before the flight.

The helicopter then landed on the island for the four tourists and others to visit. When the volcano erupted, a huge column of smoke appeared, many rocks and debris flew towards the people on the island. The four passengers of Depauw wanted to return to the helicopter, but the pilot decided that running into the sea was the safer option.

"The passenger asked if we needed to run. I looked back and saw a column of smoke hundreds of meters high, so I said: 'Run, run, run into the water. Follow me,'" he recalled.

Pilot Brian Depauw at court on July 13. Photo: NZ Herald — Pilot Brian Depauw at court on July 13. Photo: *NZ Herald*

Depauw and two passengers ran about 200 meters into the sea before the ash cloud fell around them. "As soon as we reached the surface, everything turned black, we couldn't see anything. I held my breath underwater for as long as I could, until I saw a little light through the ash, about 1-2 minutes."

He then helped two passengers onto a boat, while the other two passengers were badly burned. The helicopter was blown off course by the shockwave from the eruption, breaking its rotor blades. Depauw suffered minor injuries.

Depauw's helicopter was damaged in the volcanic eruption. Photo: NZ Herald — Depauw's helicopter was damaged in the volcanic eruption. Photo: *NZ Herald*

Responding to questions from the prosecutor, Depauw said he was certain at the time that there would be warnings before the volcano erupted so that people would "have time to leave the island".

White Island’s owners, the Buttle brothers, who run tour operator Whakaari Management, have pleaded not guilty to all charges, as have two other companies, ID Tours NZ and Tauranga Tourism Services. Each faces a maximum fine of $927,000.

The trial, which is expected to last 16 weeks, will continue next week. According to GeoNet , the volcano on White Island is the most active volcano in New Zealand, with about 70% of it submerged.

The island, located about 50 km from New Zealand's North Island, attracts more than 17,000 tourists each year. Before the tragedy, authorities had raised the danger level in the island area, but tourism activities were still organized.

"Disaster has been waiting to happen on the island for years. I've been there twice and always felt it was too dangerous to bring tourists there every day by boat and helicopter," said Ray Cas, an expert at Monash University, Australia.