Surviving White Island

Surviving the unsurvivable. Healing from the unhealable. This is an inspiring memoir of physical and mental recovery, from someone who lived through the Whakaari White Island volcanic eruption.

"I heard someone say, 'Wow!'

And someone else exclaimed, 'Look at that!'

I had my back to the crater. I turned around.

The moment I saw it, I knew what was happening. The island was erupting.

An enormous black-and-grey plume was rising above the island, already higher than the peak. It was beautiful actually, set against the bright blue sky. Beautiful and awful. Our radios were already blaring something along the lines of 'ERUPTION! TAKE COVER!' and I was yelling, 'Everyone, with me! Run!' "

Kelsey Waghorn, a guide on the ill-fated tour of Whakaari White Island in December 2019 tells her story for the first time, from physical rehab for her life-threatening burns to her mental struggle with PTSD.

By a brave and powerful woman with a wicked sense of humour, this is an uplifting story of acceptance, strength, perseverance and hope.