Richard Aaron Elzer

On Monday 9 December 2019, a total of 47 people were on Te Puia o Whakaari [White Island] at the time of two eruptions from 2.11pm which saw a plume of ash rise 3.6km above the vent. Rick Elzer and his partner Karla Mathews from Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, were part of a group of nine close mates travelling together on the board the Royal Caribbean's cruise ship 'Ovation of the Seas' which arrived at the Port of Tauranga just after 7am on 9 December. They were visiting Whakaari with White Island Tours when the volcano erupted. The couple died during the eruption. Their friend, Jason Griffiths, was rescued from the island but later died in hospital from his injuries.