Victorian dad Paul Browitt dies one month on from White Island eruption

Melbourne father Paul Browitt has died in hospital about a month after he and his two daughters were caught in the New Zealand volcano eruption.

FILE - In this Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, file photo provided by Lillani Hopkins, shows the eruption of the volcano on White Island off the coast of Whakatane, New Zealand. (Lillani Hopkins via AP, file)

Smoke rises into the air following the eruption of the White Island volcano off the coast of Whakatane, New Zealand. Source: Lillani Hopkins

Melbourne man Paul Browitt has died in hospital, a month after he and his family were caught in the New Zealand volcano eruption which also claimed his daughter's life.

Mr Browitt died in the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne on Sunday night, while his younger daughter Krystal was killed when the White Island volcano erupted on 9 December.

krystal.jpg?itok=bw8G84TS

His other daughter Stephanie remains in the Alfred for treatment, along with Adelaide woman Lisa Dallow.

One is in a stable condition and the other is still critical, while eight volcano victims remain in Sydney hospitals.

Krystal had turned 21 shortly before the Browitt family went on a cruise on the liner Ovation of the Seas.

Mr Browitt and his daughters went on a tour of the island while his wife Marie stayed on the ship.

His death takes the official toll to 18, but Sydney teenager Winona Langford, 17, and New Zealand guide Hayden Marshall-Inman, 40, remain missing, presumed dead.

"Police can confirm a further person died in an Australian hospital last night as a result of injuries suffered in the Whakaari/White Island eruption," NZ deputy police commissioner John Tims said.

Eighteenth death following Whakaari/White Island incident https://t.co/5c8IObfgJ2 pic.twitter.com/jTLjy3o2iD — New Zealand Police (@nzpolice) January 12, 2020

"The death of this person brings the official number of deceased to 18, 16 of whom died in New Zealand and two in Australia."

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Most of the victims were Australian tourists. 

A GoFundMe page for the Browitt family has raised nearly $76,000.


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