Greek Australian Krystal Eve Browitt, 21, from Craigiburn, is the first victim of the White Island volcanic eruption formally named by New Zealand police.
Divers are searching the waters near White Island to retrieve the bodies of two remaining victims. The remains of six victims were retrieved on Friday by police divers and they were able to spot one body not far from shore.
The Browitt family were holidaying on a cruise of a lifetime aboard Ovation of the Seas. Sadly, they were on White Island when the volcano erupted. Whilst the mother Marie (Drakatou) Browitt stayed behind on board the ship, her husband Paul and two daughters Stephanie and Krystal were on the island when the volcano erupted.
Following the eruption, Paul was taken to Auckland in a coma in the burn’s unit, Stephanie went to Christchurch in the burns unit in a coma. Sadly, the youngest Krystal is yet to be found and is listed as missing. A GoFundMe page was started to help financially support the family with the enormous medical costs in their time of need.
Already, $43,129 was raised from the $100,000 target by Friday afternoon.