From birthday to battle

Jake Milbank spent his 19th birthday on Monday showing tourists around Whakaari/ White Island.

He’s spent the days since fighting for his life with his family at his side after suffering 80 per cent burns to his body from the volcano’s eruption.

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

Holder had set up a Givealittle page to help Milbank’s family in their vigil at Middlemore Hospital’s intensive care unit.

She said she didn’t want the 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.’’

Holder heard that Jake was breathing on his own and his lungs were in reasonable condition. ‘‘They just have to deal with the burns now and it’s going to be a long road to recovery.’’

Holder has known Milbank for 12 years, having previously lived in the same neighbourhood of Manawahe, inland west of Whakata¯ ne, and was close friends with his mother, Janet Lawson.

Holder described Milbank as ‘‘a kind-hearted young man’’ who loved the ocean.