Harrowing pictures show the life-changing injuries suffered by a tour guide who suffered burns to 80 per cent of his body in White Island blast
- Jake Milbank, 19, said he is improving every day after the White Island eruption
- The tour guide did four months recovering in hospital with two weeks in a coma
- He said the recovery is building his character and he is inspired by fellow victims
- Twenty-one people died after hot ash rained down as tourists explored island
A White Island tour guide and eruption survivor says he is improving every day after the devastating volcano blast.
Jake Milbank suffered burns to 80 per cent of his body when the volcano erupted off the coast of Whakatane on New Zealand's North Island on December 9.
Forty-seven people were trapped on the island when the volcano blew, sending ash, rocks, debris and 300C steam into the air at a rate of more than 100 metres per second.
Twenty-one people died and dozens more were injured, with Mr Milbank spending four months recovering in hospital, with two weeks of that time in a coma and had 25 surgeries on his burnt and blistered skin.
White Island tour guide Jake Milbank spent four months in hospital after the devastating eruption, including two weeks in a coma, with burns to 80 per cent of his body
The White Island volcano erupted on December 9 2019, with 47 people trapped on the island leaving 21 dead
Mr Milbank told Newshub he is happy to be home and doing rehabilitation and learning to live with and expand his limitations.
'Things like putting your socks on and off, you don't think of that being a very big thing until you can't do it,' he said. 'Having to have someone else there to put your shoes on and off is a lot different to what you're used to.'
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Mr Milbank can't raise his arms over his head or touch the ground after the blast and is living with his parents and sister who are supporting him in recovery.
The 19-year-old was rescued on tour boat The Phoenix after the eruption and remembers concentrating on staying awake to keep himself alive on the journey to the mainland.
Mr Milbank with his parents during his recovery process. He said he is enjoying the challenges of recovery and believes they are building his character and resilience after the blast
'It kind of all came down to that fight or flight kind of thing,' he said. 'You know what you've got to do to survive and that was all I was really thinking about doing at the time.'
More than $150,000 was raised for Mr Milbank's recovery through a Give a Little fundraiser, with Mr Milbank saying he is enjoying the process of recovery and believes the challenges are building his character and resilience after the blast.
He has kept in contact with many of his rescuers and fellow victims of the eruption and celebrates a sense of camaraderie and inspiration through the group.
Despite the tragic event, Mr Milbank said he has no hard feelings towards the island and is excited to return.
'I just cant wait until we can get in our boat and go out and have a closer look,' he said.
Mr Milbank in happier times inside the crater of the White Island volcano before the eruption
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