Whakaari/White Island: Hero tour guide 'in his happy place'

Friday, 10 January 2020

Hayden Marshall-Inman was remembered as a hero and 'guardian of Whakaari'.

In the moments before 2.11pm, the family of Hayden Marshall-Inman looked out to the 'happy place' he has never returned from.

But Whakaari/White Island has become a 'monument' for the hero Kiwi tour guide, who remains lost to the sea a month after a deadly eruption, brother Mark Inman says.

Brother Mark Inman says the family gathered at the beach and looked out to Whakaari/White Island as the one month anniversary passed.

Forty seven people were on the active volcano when it erupted in the afternoon of December 9, enveloping the island in scorching ash.

Nineteen tour guides and travellers, including an entire family, from all over the world died following the fateful sightseeing trip.

Hayden Marshall-Inman and Winona Langford remjain the only two victims still missing.

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The bodies of Marshall-Inman and 17-year-old Winona Langford remain missing.

'We believe that [Hayden] won't be home until she's found either,' Hayden's brother, Mark Inman, said. As long as she's out there, he'll be there looking out for her.

'It is comforting to know that he's not out there alone.'

At first light on Thursday, the one month anniversary of the tragedy, Hayden's family went down to the beach and looked out to Whakaari/White Island.

Later that afternoon, they gathered on the beach to share memories of Hayden, stopping for a minute's silence as 2.11pm passed.

Hayden has been described as a 'hero' and 'guardian of Whakaari', who used to leave $5 for the next shopper every time he bought his favourite lollies from the local Four Square.

His last known footsteps show he was going inland to help those injured following the eruption.

Winona's mother and father also died in the eruption. Her brother Jesse, recovering in Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital in Australia with serious burns, is the family's only survivor.

'He's lost a sister, we've lost a brother,' Mark said. 'He's in hospital and he's lost his mum and dad. So our thoughts are prayers go out to him as well.

'We're hoping to make contact soon with him and let him know that we're here for him.'

The support from people all over the world - especially the Ōhope, Whakatāne community - has been 'humbling'.

The family wanted to thank people for the many messages, cards and hugs they'd received.

'Everywhere you walk you know every one and they give you a cuddle, a hug and they say we're here for you,' Mark said. 'It sort of sums up Hayden really, because that's what he'd have been doing if he was here.'

Many in the community had continued to 'pay it forward' at their local dairies, in Hayden's memory.

And the family are determined to extend the same support to recovering victims of the eruption, once they're well enough to be visited.

'We've just got to wait, be patient. As soon as we get a chance we'll be down there to show the support that we've been given and help them back on their feet as well.'

Hayden loved the ocean and the outdoors - especially Whakaari - and it helped the family having the island to look out to every day, Mark said.

On New Year's Day, Hayden's dad and nephews went out on a boat and caught the first yellow fish tuna of the season.

'It was probably the largest tuna in Whakatane for a number of years.

'There were a couple of comments that Hayden set it up. Little things like that, whether you believe it or not, it certainly helps the heart.

'It's comforting to know that he's actually out in his happy place.'