One of the frontline responders to last week's White Island eruption tragically died in a car crash only days later.
Sheila Cheng was an intensive care unit nurse at Whakatane Hospital and front and centre last week in the aftermath of the Whakaari eruption, which killed at least 18 and injured more than 25 others.
According to a GiveALittle set up for the woman, Cheng was killed on Saturday in a car accident near Lake Rotoiti in the Bay of Plenty. Her husband, Rhys Bugden, was also in the car when it collided with another.
He has been recovering in Waikato Hospital and needed multiple surgeries to save his life.
"Their family are being hit with a double tragedy right before Xmas, any kindness spared during this time would be much appreciated," the GiveALittle says.
The fundraiser was created by a friend of the couple and the mother of a child involved in the car crash. Five people were injured in the collision, which is under investigation by police.
Bugden's mother, Pam Greenhalgh, told NZME the crash happened when the pair were travelling back to Whakatane after spending some time with some friends. Cheng had been working long hours all week caring for the eruption victims.
"Sheila was so full of love for everybody. She was the most loving and caring person I have ever met who just wanted to help other people," Greenhalgh said.
"She always thought of other people's needs before her own and she loved everyone. I never heard her say a bad word about anyone."
Since being set up on Tuesday, the GiveALittle has raised just under $500, money which will go towards Cheng's funeral and Bugden's medical costs.
The Whakatane Hospital was the first to treat victims of last Monday's disaster. Clinical leader Dr Heike Hundemer said what the nurses and doctors faced was "beyond comprehension".
"I've never seen this number of critically injured patients coming into an emergency department in such a short space of time," she said.
