Kelsey Waghorn: White Island volcano survivor’s gruesome injuries revealed – as she relives the moment the world erupted in a deadly fireball, killing 22 around her and maiming 25 more
Kelsey Waghorn: White Island Volcano Survivor’s Harrowing Experience
White Island’s volcanic terrain features two streams that meander through the landscape, eventually leading to Crater Bay. These natural features were a familiar stop for our group, offering a chance to regroup after navigating the rugged path and reflecting on the water’s unique qualities.
The streams had distinct flavors, each originating from separate sources—some rich with iron, others sharp and acidic. I was mid-explanation, demonstrating how to taste the water and detailing its characteristics, when the air shifted. Everyone began shouting, gesturing wildly, and I instinctively understood: the island was erupting.
A Moment of Chaos
As soon as I spotted the phenomenon, I realized the eruption had begun. Kelsey Waghorn, a 25-year-old tour guide, was among the 47 people on New Zealand’s White Island that day. Her account of the event, captured in her book *Surviving White Island*, reveals the immediate panic that followed.
There was no dramatic warning—no thunderous roar or rumbling earth. The only sound was the radios shouting ‘ERUPTION! TAKE COVER!’ and my own voice urging, ‘Everyone, with me! Run!’ My training took over, and I sprinted along the track, dodging boulders and ducking behind a rock mound to seek shelter.
“The absurdity of the whole situation bubbled through like a tiny laugh in my head: ‘This feels just like our drills. This is insane.'”
Time seemed to stretch as we scrambled for safety. What felt like minutes were actually 120 seconds of chaos. The group split—some heading left, others joining me behind the rocks. We were 300 to 400 metres from the main crater, but the danger was already closing in.
The Deadly Pyroclastic Surge
From our vantage point, the northern wall became a focal point. There, the pyroclastic surge—a fast-moving wave of superheated gas and debris—rumbled toward us. This wasn’t a slow advance; it was a force of nature. Yet, in the moment, it seemed to move agonizingly slowly, amplifying the terror.
Kelsey recalls, “I heard someone say, ‘Wow!’; and another exclaim, ‘Look at that!'” The surge’s arrival was swift, and its impact was catastrophic. Twenty-two lives were lost, with 25 more suffering severe injuries. Two bodies remained unrecovered, buried beneath the volcanic ash.
Pyroclastic surges often form when an eruption column collapses. The column shot skyward with explosive force, carrying ash, gas, and rocks. But gravity eventually pulled it down, creating a dense, scorching wave that swept across the ground. Such surges are rarely survivable, and Kelsey’s exposed arms burned as if in flames.
A section of her right elbow (above) was spared due to her instinct to shield her face. She is pictured in April 2020, showcasing the injuries she sustained. Another image captures her shortly after hospital discharge, as her legs began to mend.
An aerial photograph from the time highlights the New Zealand Defence Force’s efforts to recover victims from the island’s treacherous terrain. For Kelsey, the eruption wasn’t just a disaster—it became a defining chapter in her life, chronicled in detail in her personal account.
