Volcano Survivors Forge Unbreakable Bond with Compassionate Taxi Driver
A mother and daughter, still navigating the long road to recovery from a catastrophic natural disaster on a tourist island, have unveiled a heartwarming story of human kindness. Their tale centers on a taxi driver whose selfless actions have earned him an honorary place in their family.
A Family Shattered by Tragedy
Marie Browitt's family of four was devastatingly halved when the volcano on White Island, located off the coast of New Zealand's North Island, erupted on December 9, 2019. The eruption claimed the lives of 22 tourists who had been on a cruise ship excursion. Among the victims were Ms Browitt's 55-year-old husband, Paul, and her 21-year-old daughter, Krystal. Her eldest daughter, Steph, then 23, suffered severe burns to more than 70 percent of her body.
Steph spent six months undergoing intensive treatment at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, with her grieving mother constantly by her side. However, in the rare moments when Marie needed to step away from her daughter's bedside, she found an unexpected source of support.
An Unlikely Guardian Angel
Azamatlihan was working a regular shift as a taxi driver when he picked up Marie, who began crying in his car. "I asked, 'Why are you crying?' and she said, 'We are victims of the volcano'. I was shocked. They've came back up from hell," Azamatlihan recounted in a recent interview.
Marie vividly remembers his immediate response: "He said, 'Here's my number. Any time of day, any time of night, I don't care what time it is - you ring me and I will be there'. And he was." True to his word, for several years, Azamatlihan became the primary transport for the mother and daughter, ferrying them to and from the hospital as Steph continued her grueling treatment.
Azamatlihan reflected on their unique relationship, stating, "They see me like a family member. I have another family, you know. My own family and them."
Community Kindness and Haunting Questions
The Browitts have also cherished the kindness shown by the locals of Whakatāne, the town closest to White Island. In the immediate aftermath of the eruption, when conditions were deemed too dangerous for official helicopter rescues, several local pilots took matters into their own hands, performing daring rescues. Among those saved was Krystal, though she later succumbed to her injuries.
Marie and Steph were invited back to Whakatāne, where they met the heroes who witnessed their loved ones' final moments. This visit allowed Marie to find answers to her most haunting questions: who was the last person to hold her daughter, and who picked her up from the island?
"I don't know what it was about the beautiful people, the warmth that we were immersed in and the love that surrounded us, but I felt some sort of peace," Marie shared.
The Unseen Pain and Ongoing Impact
Marie was the only family member who remained on the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship during the eruption. Stephanie has emphasized that because her mother wasn't physically injured, many cannot comprehend the true depth of her emotional suffering.
Stephanie previously described how her mother had to pack the family's holiday luggage and return to their empty Melbourne home, once filled with love and laughter. "Then eventually she had to organise both my dad and sister's funeral. She went home alone in a taxi upon burying her family. Her screams were heard," she wrote.
The tragedy prompted significant legal and regulatory scrutiny. Thirteen parties were charged over the deaths of the 22 people, including 17 Australians. Tours to White Island had continued despite warnings of a heightened eruption risk, sparking investigations into the volcano's management.
WorkSafe NZ chief executive Phil Parkes noted, "This deeply tragic event was unexpected. That does not mean it was unforeseeable. There were 47 people on the island at the time of the eruption, all of whom suffered serious injuries and trauma."
For Marie, the connection to White Island remains profound. "I came back different. I can't explain it, I can't put it to words. I want to go back. I wished I could live there so I could feel close to my child. I feel a pull to this island. I really do," she expressed, highlighting the enduring emotional legacy of the disaster and the bonds formed in its aftermath.
