Extraordinary new vision taken from a nearby boat shows smoke and ash spewing from Whakaari/ White Island yesterday.
Remarkably, rather than flee, the boat returned to the island to assist those trapped on the island following yesterday’s volcanic eruption.
The footage was provided to 1 NEWS by Lillani Hopkins, who travelled on a tour to the island with her father Geoff.
Shortly after they left the island, the crater erupted.
Twenty-three people were picked up from the island, many of them suffering awful injuries, Mr Hopkins of Hamilton told 1 NEWS.
Many of them had suffered terrible burns to their hands.
A crew from the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter set down on the island in the hunt for the injured. (Source: Other)
Those on board did what they could to administer first aid, until they arrived back at Whakatāne and paramedics took over.
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