A helicopter pilot's decisive action saved lives during the tragic 2019 White Island volcano eruption in New Zealand, according to his court testimony on Thursday. Brian Depauw, recounting the events that claimed 22 lives, described how he and two passengers escaped severe injury by plunging into the ocean as the volcano unleashed superheated gases and debris.
Depauw, who had only recently started working for tour operator Volcanic Air, was piloting a joy flight with four German passengers when the eruption occurred. He had briefed his passengers on emergency procedures, jokingly advising them to follow him if they ever saw him run. When the volcano erupted, his instincts took over, and instead of returning to the helicopter, he directed everyone towards the water.
“I saw the plume rising thousands of feet, boulders and debris hurtling towards us,” Depauw recounted in a video statement recorded days after the eruption. “I yelled, ‘Run, run, run to the water! Follow me!’”
Depauw and two passengers managed to reach the ocean, shielding themselves from the scorching ash cloud by submerging themselves. “The moment I hit the water, everything went dark,” he testified. “The ash engulfed us, and I couldn’t see a thing. I held my breath, staying underwater until I saw a glimmer of light.”
Emerging from the water, Depauw assisted his two passengers, who had fortunately avoided burns, onto a nearby boat. The other two passengers, however, were unable to reach the water and suffered severe burns. Depauw expressed his belief that the water had been their salvation.
During the trial, Depauw admitted he had expected warning signs before an eruption and was unaware of a previous eruption in 2016. He believed there would be sufficient time to evacuate the island if the volcano showed signs of activity. His own injuries were minor, consisting of a cut knee, a pulled back muscle, and temporary eye irritation from the ash.
The trial involves three tourism companies and three directors facing charges of safety breaches related to the disaster. The island's owners, brothers Andrew, James, and Peter Buttle, along with their company Whakaari Management Ltd., and tour operators ID Tours NZ Ltd. and Tauranga Tourism Services Ltd., have pleaded not guilty. Other tour operators have entered guilty pleas and await sentencing. The trial is scheduled to continue after a brief adjournment.
