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 Shares Harrowing Experience of Deadly Eruption
At the heart of the island, two streams meandered toward Crater Bay, their paths creating a natural gathering spot for the group. Kelsey Waghorn, a 25-year-old tour guide, recalls pausing there often to ensure everyone stayed together after hiking, while also sharing insights about the water’s distinct flavor.
The streams carried distinct characteristics—some iron-rich, others sharp and acidic—each reflecting different geological sources. While explaining the water’s taste to visitors, Waghorn noticed a sudden commotion. Conversations erupted, and people pointed toward the sky as if witnessing something extraordinary.
Before she could process the chaos, the island erupted. “The moment I saw it, I knew what was happening,” she writes. “The world was exploding in a deadly fireball.” The eruption on December 9, 2019, claimed 22 lives and left 25 others severely injured, with two bodies never recovered.
Time seemed to stretch during the chaos. What felt like a matter of minutes became a prolonged, terrifying experience. A massive black-and-grey plume rose swiftly, surpassing the island’s peak and contrasting starkly with the azure sky. Yet, there was no dramatic warning—no roar, no bang, no seismic rumble.
The only sound was the frantic calls over radios: “ERUPTION! TAKE COVER!” and Waghorn’s own shouts urging the group to run. Her training kicked in instantly, propelling her toward shelter. She sprinted along the path, navigated a pile of boulders, and ducked behind a rock formation, her mind racing.
“The absurdity of the situation hit me like a tiny laugh in my head: ‘This feels just like our drills. This is insane.'” — Kelsey Waghorn
As the group regrouped, some took cover behind another mound of rocks nearby. Waghorn remembers Jake, her workmate, joining her. “He crouched beside me, his voice trembling as he said my name,” she recounts. “I told him, ‘It’s going to be okay.'” But the calm was fleeting.
Seconds later, a pyroclastic surge approached. “That’s when I saw the worst-case scenario,” Waghorn writes. “A wall of searing gas and volcanic debris was rolling toward us.” These surges, she explains, are not slow threats but relentless forces. “If you saw one coming, survival was unlikely,” she notes, referencing the grim statistics.
Her exposed arms burned as the surge hit. “My arms felt like they were on fire,” she writes in *Surviving White Island*. A portion of her right elbow escaped damage because she shielded her face for as long as possible. The event left lasting scars, both physical and emotional.
An aerial image captures the New Zealand Defence Force’s efforts to retrieve bodies from the island, highlighting the scale of the tragedy. Waghorn’s account, detailed in her book, offers a personal glimpse into the chaos and the resilience of those who survived.
Months after the eruption, she was photographed in April 2020, her legs beginning to mend. The memory of that day, she says, remains etched in her mind—a stark reminder of nature’s power and the fragility of life.