Deborah Chan
Matthew and Lauren Urey, a newlywed couple from Virginia, suffered severe burns when a volcano erupted on New Zealand's White Island in December 2019. The couple, who were on their honeymoon, were among 47 visitors on the island at the time of the eruption, nine of whom were Americans. Matthew and Lauren were badly burned, with Matthew suffering burns on 80% of his body and Lauren on 25% of hers. They were both put in medically induced comas and have since filed a lawsuit against a tour company and cruise line, claiming they were not warned of the heightened volcanic activity on the island.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Honeymooners' names | Matthew and Lauren Urey |
| Honeymooners' ages | Matthew: 40, Lauren: 36 |
| Honeymooners' residence | Richmond, Virginia |
| Volcano name | Whakaari/White Island |
| Volcano location | New Zealand |
| Volcano eruption date | 9 December 2019 |
| Number of people on the island | 47 |
| Number of Americans on the island | 9 |
| Number of survivors | 26 |
| Number of deaths | 21-22 |
| Honeymooners' injuries | Severe burns, with Matthew at 80% and Lauren at 25% |
| Honeymooners' surgeries | Once a month for 1-2 years |
| Honeymooners' lawsuit | Against Royal Caribbean and ID Tours New Zealand Ltd. |
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What You'll Learn
- Matthew and Lauren Urey suffered burns on 80% and 25% of their bodies, respectively
- The couple filed a lawsuit against the cruise company and tour agency
- The Ureys were not warned of the heightened volcanic activity on the island
- The Ureys were part of a group of 47 people on the island, with only 26 surviving
- The Ureys plan to redo their honeymoon in the U.S
Matthew and Lauren Urey suffered burns on 80% and 25% of their bodies, respectively
Matthew and Lauren Urey, a newlywed couple from Richmond, Virginia, suffered burns on 80% and 25% of their bodies, respectively, after a volcano erupted on New Zealand's White Island in December 2019. The couple was on their honeymoon and had booked an excursion to Whakaari/White Island through Royal Caribbean, the company that owned the cruise ship they were travelling on.
The Ureys, along with 47 other people, were on the island when the volcano erupted. The eruption killed 21 people, mostly tourists, and injured many others. The couple recalled that they were heading back to their boat when they heard the tour guide yell, "run," and within less than a minute, they were engulfed in scalding ash and smoke. They sought shelter behind a rock near the water, but the dark cloud of volcanic gas quickly enveloped the island.
Matthew and Lauren suffered severe burns and were both put in medically induced comas. They have had to undergo multiple surgeries and have been left with severely scarred skin. In the aftermath of the eruption, Lauren was hospitalised in Auckland, where she received treatment for her burns. Matthew's mother, Janet, said she learned of her son and daughter-in-law's injuries from a voicemail he left her, despite his severely burned hands making it difficult for him to use the phone.
The couple has since filed a lawsuit against Royal Caribbean and ID Tours New Zealand Ltd., claiming that they were not warned of heightened volcanic activity on the island before their excursion. They argue that the companies involved in their trip to the crater did not provide adequate information about the dangers they faced and that safety protections were lax. The Ureys said they were told it would be a ""nice, easy hike" and that it was not made to sound dangerous. They plan to redo their honeymoon in the US, possibly next year.
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The couple filed a lawsuit against the cruise company and tour agency
The American couple, Matthew and Lauren Urey, filed a lawsuit against the cruise company, Royal Caribbean, and the tour agency, ID Tours New Zealand Ltd. The Ureys claimed that neither the cruise company nor the tour agency warned them of the heightened volcanic activity and the possibility of an eruption on White Island, New Zealand's most active volcano.
The couple, who were on their honeymoon, had booked their excursion to White Island through Royal Caribbean months in advance. They recalled that the brochure advertised the site as the country's most active volcano, but they were not warned of any potential dangers or likelihood of an eruption. Matthew Urey stated that he "absolutely" would not have booked the trip if he had known there was a chance of an eruption.
In the weeks leading up to the trip, New Zealand's GeoNet agency raised the island's volcanic alert level to 2, indicating a heightened risk of eruption. However, the couple claimed they were not informed of this increased risk. They were only made aware of the elevated alert level when Lauren Urey, feeling nervous about the trip, inquired about the chances of an eruption. Even then, they were reassured that there would be a 10-minute warning before any volcanic activity, which did not occur.
The Ureys suffered severe burns and were put in medically induced comas. They have had to undergo multiple surgeries and have faced a long road to recovery. The couple expressed their anger and frustration over the lack of warning and the impact the incident has had on their lives.
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The Ureys were not warned of the heightened volcanic activity on the island
The Ureys, an American couple honeymooning in New Zealand, were among those severely injured in the White Island volcano eruption in December 2019. Matthew and Lauren Urey suffered burns on 80% and 25% of their bodies, respectively, and had to be hospitalized. They believed the hike up the volcano would be a "nice, easy hike" and were not warned of the heightened volcanic activity on the island.
In the weeks prior to their trip, New Zealand's GeoNet agency raised the island's volcanic alert level to 2, indicating a heightened risk of eruption. However, the Ureys claim they were not informed of this increased risk by Royal Caribbean or ID Tours New Zealand Ltd., the companies they booked their excursion through. They assumed it was safe, as the only precautions listed were to wear closed-toe shoes and a warning for those with mobility issues.
The Ureys have filed a lawsuit against the tour company and cruise line, alleging that they were not provided with adequate information about the potential dangers of visiting the volcano. They stated that they would not have gone to the island if they had known about the increased risk. In a court statement, Matthew Urey said he would "absolutely not" have booked the trip if he had known there was a chance of an eruption.
The Ureys also claimed that they were told by a guide that visitors to the island would receive a 10-minute warning of any volcanic activity. However, when the eruption occurred, there was no such warning. They only learned that the volcano's alert level had been raised when Lauren Urey, nervous about the trip, asked a guide about the chances of an eruption.
The Ureys' experience highlights the importance of providing accurate and up-to-date information to visitors about the risks associated with visiting active volcanic sites. It also raises questions about the responsibility of tour companies and cruise lines in ensuring the safety of their customers when visiting potentially dangerous locations.
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The Ureys were part of a group of 47 people on the island, with only 26 surviving
The Ureys were among 47 people on White Island, New Zealand, when the volcano erupted. The island is New Zealand's most active volcano, according to GeoNet, and had seen over 10,000 visitors in the year of the eruption. Despite this, the Ureys claim they were not warned of the heightened volcanic activity or the dangers they faced.
The Ureys were on a honeymoon cruise to Australia and New Zealand, and had booked an excursion to Whakaari/White Island through the same company months earlier. The brochure advertised the site as the country's most active volcano, but Matt Urey said he assumed it was safe. The only precautions listed were a requirement to wear closed-toe shoes and a warning for those with mobility issues.
The couple said they only learned that the volcano's alert level had been lifted when Lauren Urey, nervous about the trip, asked a guide about the chances of an eruption. They were reassured that visitors would receive a 10-minute warning of any volcanic activity. However, there was no such warning. Instead, another tourist pointed at the plume of smoke that suddenly appeared, and the guide urged them to "run".
Of the 47 people on the island, only 26 survived. The Ureys were among those who survived, but they suffered severe burns and were both put in medically induced comas. Lauren Urey was burned on 25% of her body, while her husband Matthew suffered burns on 80% of his body.
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The Ureys plan to redo their honeymoon in the U.S
The couple, who had married in October, were among 47 visitors believed to have been on the island at the time of the explosion, nine of them Americans. They suffered severe burns from the explosion and spent six months recovering. Matthew's legs were incredibly burned during the eruption, as he was wearing shorts, and his hands were also severely burned, making it difficult for him to use the phone. Lauren had burns on 25% of her body and has faced surgeries about once a month since the eruption. The pair have been forced to delay starting a family.
The Ureys have filed a lawsuit against Royal Caribbean and ID Tours New Zealand Ltd., claiming the companies did not warn them of heightened volcanic activity on the island before the excursion. They said they were not told what such a risk rating signified and that the only other instructions the guides issued were to keep to the path and not to rush ahead or fall behind the group. There was no 10-minute warning of the eruption, the Ureys told the court. Instead, another tourist pointed at the plume of smoke that suddenly appeared, and then their guide urged them to "run".
The Ureys said they plan to redo their honeymoon in the U.S., possibly next year.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the American honeymoon couple, Matt and Lauren Urey, survived the volcano eruption. They suffered severe burns and were put in medically induced comas.
Matthew Urey suffered burns on 80% of his body, while Lauren Urey suffered burns on 25% of hers. Both of their hands were severely burned.
The couple filed a lawsuit against Royal Caribbean and ID Tours New Zealand Ltd., claiming that they were not warned of the heightened volcanic activity on the island.
Matthew Urey recalled thinking, "This is it. We're going to die on our honeymoon." The couple described the heat as "unbearable" and said they believed it was a miracle they survived.
