The brother of a guide killed on White Island has shared his incredible story on The Project.
Whakatane tour guide Hayden Marshall-Inman is still on the island - presumed dead, one of the multiple victims of Monday's eruption.
Speaking to Newshub National Correspondent Patrick Gower, his brother Mark Inman says his brother was filling in as a guide yesterday when the tragedy occurred.
"Normally he's a skipper, but he jumped on board and helped the team out. He's a real team player," he told Gower.
"He was a guy that would do anything for anyone. I read a post from someone on Facebook yesterday or last night, saying he leaves $5 in the local dairy for whoever can't afford something, every week he goes in."
The volcano erupted at 2:11pm, likely due to a sudden steam-driven explosion. When helicopter pilots on the mainland saw the plume, they immediately set off to investigate.
"Two pilots that were absolutely amazing true heroes, they went out on their own accord," Inman says.
"They didn't have to go out but any sign of smoke and it didn't seem right, they flew straight out. And they were some of the first responders.
"Tom Storey and Mark Law, they flew out on their own accord - and thank god they did. They pulled some people back that may not have survived. Heroes."
Unfortunately, Hayden wasn't one of the survivors. His body now lies on a rise beside a stream.
"They found my brother lying down, they lifted him up and moved him to a safe spot and carried on saving the ones that needed saving. They did a fantastic job. Unsung heroes," Inman says.
"That's the key for us, he's safe. He's at peace, but he's safe. And he died doing what he absolutely loved and you can't ask for anything more."
But Inman is frustrated at the lack of communication. He says no one is now willing to make to call to go, recover the bodies on the island and "bring him home".
"Currently, it's people in the higher ranking orders that are putting red tape in front of things, that are slowing the process down," he told Gower.
"You never want to be left alone by yourself. You come from Māori culture down this way, you know, human bodies are precious. Let's treat them that way, treat them with some dignity and respect, and do all we can to get them back."
