HOLIDAY TERROR

TASSIE FAMILY SAFE AS UP TO 14 FEARED LOST TO VOLCANO

RELATIVES of a Tasmanian teen “feared the worst” when she was listed as a missing person after the NZ volcano disaster.

The girl’s uncle has told of his nightmare, as for several hours he could not confirm if his niece and brother were alive.

“It was such a relief to hear they were OK,” he said.

Up to 14 people are feared dead.

THE family of a Tasmanian girl holidaying on a cruise ship in New Zealand “feared the worst” when they could not reach the teenager in the hours following the volcano disaster.

Tarli Sky Tonks, 14, of Glenorchy, was on the adventure of a lifetime with her dad, his partner and a school friend when the White Island volcano erupted on Monday afternoon.

There were 47 people on or near the island at the time, including 38 passengers from the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship, which left Sydney on December 4.

Tarli was listed as “missing” on the Red Cross website by her cousin on Monday night when she failed to make contact.

But her name was removed from the register yesterday after she touched base via social media.

Tarli’s uncle Wayne Tonks told the Mercury his brother, Matthew Tonks, had been planning the trip with his youngest child for months.

“They were all ecstatic,” he said.

“Tarli is extremely close with her dad. She survived cancer a few years ago and has had a really tough life, so he was really keen to give her a decent holiday.

“She was over the moon about going to New Zealand.”

Mr Tonks, of Chigwell, said his heart sank when he received a call from his nephew early yesterday morning telling him Tarli was on the list and nobody had heard from the group.

“I actually feared the worst,” Mr Tonks said.

“She’s quite an adventurous child and she’s never seen a volcano. My daughter tried to reassure me by saying her dad never lets her out of his sight, but then I had mixed feelings about whether they had forgotten to put Matthew on the list.

“I wanted to know my family was safe and I couldn’t get any answers from anybody.”

Mr Tonks said he eventually reached someone at the consulate, who told him Tarli was not on the official White Island excursion list, but couldn’t rule out if she had joined another day trip.

While he was trying to reach cruise ship operator, Royal Caribbean, Mr Tonks received the message he had been hoping for.

“She told me they were still on the ship and they were delayed due to what had happened,” he said. “I’m so glad to know they’re safe, uninjured and will be home soon.”

When asked how he would welcome his niece and brother back to Tasmania, Mr Tonks said: “I’ll be running to the airport gate.”

It is understood deeply distressed staff and students at Montrose Bay High School were also relieved to hear Tarli was out of harm’s way.

“We are advised the school has received confirmation that their student is safe, which we can all take great comfort from,” an Education Department spokesman said.

“Our thoughts are with those who have lost their lives or are still missing.”

I WANTED TO KNOW MY FAMILY WAS SAFE AND I COULDN’T GET ANY ANSWERS FROM

ANYBODY WAYNE TONKS