Whakaari/White Island: Teen tour guide suffers 80 per cent burns on birthday

Wednesday, 11 December 2019

Rebecca Holder has already raised thousands for injured family friend, Jake Milbank who is a tour guide for White Island Tours.

Jake Milbank spent much of his nineteenth birthday in his element, showing tourists around Whakaari/White Island.

In the days since Monday, he's been fighting for his life. His family have been at his side at Middlemore Hospital's ICU after the ocean-loving Whakatāne lad suffered 80 per cent burns to his body from the eruption.

Rebecca Holder, a close family friend of Milbank, told Stuff she understood the White Island Tours guide was now breathing on his own and his lungs were in reasonable condition.

Tour guide Jake Milbank. A GiveALittle campaign created for him by a close family friend said he had burns to 80 per cent of his body.

'They just have to deal with the burns now and it's going to be a long road to recovery.'

**READ MORE:

Tourists watch on as Whakaari/White Island erupts. Milbank was on the island at the time.

* Whakaari/White Island eruption: Mother and daughter first Australian victims

* Whakaari/White Island eruption: More details expected about burn victims, and the state of the volcano**

Rebecca Holder says the response to the givealittle page she set up to help Jake Milbank's recovery has been amazing.

Holder has known Milbank for 12 years, having previously lived in the same neighbourhood of Manawahe, inland west of Whakatāne. She is also close friends with his mother, Janet Lawson.

Holder described Milbank as 'a kind hearted young man' who loved the ocean.

'His job at White Island Tours was right up his ally - he was seriously in his element.'

Holder, speaking with permission, said the Milbank family wanted to thank everyone for the messages of support they had received so far.

'Those messages of love are getting to them and they know they are well supported right now and I want to thank everyone on behalf of the family for what they have done already.'

Holder has worked as a tour guide on the island in the past.

When she heard of the eruption, she imagined the worst-case scenario.

'I'm aware of what can potentially happen there, so we were quite concerned about everyone on there.'

Holder contacted Lawson as soon as she heard. Initially Janet did not know if her son was injured or not.

'She was waiting at the cordon to hear news,' Holder said.

Residents can see the conditions change on Whakaari/White Island 'from one day to the next'.

'It is unpredictable, but when you step on that island, you know what you're stepping onto.

'White Island plays up all the time, it's something that we're used to - however Monday's eruption - that's quite extraordinary, that's not normal.'

Holder set up a Givealittle page to help Milbank's family in their vigil at Middlemore Hospital's ICU.

'I don't want the family and all of her family and friends to be struggling financially to be at Jake's bedside.'

Holder was overwhelmed by the response to date. In the six hours since the page was created, $22,710 had been donated to Jake.

'It's so humbling. It's just amazing, I can't believe the show of support already.

'It just goes to show what the community's like here in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. We band together here in the Eastern Bay.'

Donations to Jake Milbank's recovery can be made on his Givealittle page