Man who got off White Island minutes before eruption recalls helping injured American couple

New Zealand — Police in New Zealand are still trying to find the bodies of the people missing after the eruption of the White Island volcano.

A short time ago, police announced that the death toll had risen to eight, while almost 30 more victims are in local hospitals being treated for severe burns.

Geoff Hopkins got off the island only minutes before the eruption and then turned around to help those who were not so lucky, including an American couple with ties to Hermitage.

The trip was Hopkins’ 50th birthday gift from his daughter Lilani. Hopkins was enjoying a picture-perfect day with crystal blue skies over the lunar-like landscape.

"Beautiful yellows and whites and crystals. But knowing that just below the surface it's so violent, so hot, so so explosive," Hopkins told CNN. "We weren’t in any hurry to get off the island. I’m thinking where I’m gonna sit on the boat, so we can get some awesome shots of the island as we leave."

A few minutes later, they saw the sky turn dark.

"For a split second, it was a gasp of awe. One or two seconds later, as that menacing ash cloud started to roll over the cliff and engulf the island. Wow, this is serious. This is bad. At that stage, you think, there were people still on the island,” said Hopkins.

Their tour boat turned around to help evacuate the survivors. Everything on the island covered in ash, people swimming off the island. They pulled 23 survivors onto the boat.

“Everybody was horrific burns. Skin falling off… lots of screaming. Panicked screaming. ‘Get me out of here. I’m burning. I’m burning,’” said Hopkins.

Hopkins is a trained first responder and said it was hard to tell the students from the senior citizens. He spent much of the 90-minute trip back to shore caring for a young couple from Virginia.

Lauren and Matthew Urey were on what was supposed to be their dream honeymoon.

“I remember I asked her name, and she struggled to say it. And he said it for her and said ‘She’s my wife.’ And she would ask ‘How’s my husband?' And he would ask ‘How’s my wife?’” said Hopkins.

He fought to keep them awake, fought to keep them alive.

"She said, ‘This is the worst day of my life.’ And I had to say, ‘Yes, it is. But you’ve got so much more in your life to live.’ When she says ‘I don’t think I’m gonna make it,’ you rebuke that. ‘You are gonna make it. You are gonna make it. You’re strong. You’re a fighter. You’re gonna get through this. You’ve got a future,’” said Hopkins.

Matt Urey’s mother, Janet, spoke to CNN before boarding her flight for the 29-hour journey from Pennsylvania to New Zealand: “It’s absolutely soul crushing. It’s my worst nightmare. But on the other hand, I’m trying to focus on the positive. They were lucky enough. They had already come down the volcano, so they were close to the water.”

Hermitage native injured in New Zealand volcano eruption leaves voicemail for mother Hermitage native injured in New Zealand volcano eruption leaves voicemail for mother

She said the couple managed to seek shelter behind a rock, but they still suffered severe burns over much of their bodies.

Hopkins tries not to think about what could have happened.

“If we had not gotten off the island, there would have been double the victims. And nobody to help. It’s a day I’ll never forget. Never forget.”

He’ll also never forget the people who died, and the ones still fighting to stay alive.

© 2019 Cox Media Group