Tragic Story of a Couple Who Died in a Volcanic Eruption During Their Honeymoon / Warning: Contains Disturbing Images and Videos

According to Saed News, citing Fararu, the trailer for the film Volcano presents a minute-by-minute account of the experiences of survivors Matthew and Lauren Avery from Richmond, Virginia, describing the moment they believed everything was over.

Matthew, holding his wife’s hand, recalls: “This is it. We are going to die on our honeymoon.”

Matthew suffered burns over 80% of his body, while Lauren was burned over 25% of her body. She said she felt her body was extremely hot.

When the couple decided to hike the volcano, they were told it would be a pleasant and easy walk.

In the documentary, executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew said: “They did not describe the volcano as dangerous.”

At the time of the eruption, 47 people were on the island, including nine Americans. Only 26 people survived the explosion. All survivors sustained burn injuries.

The couple believes it was a miracle that they survived the eruption.

Authorities considered the island too dangerous for rescue operations and initially left survivors on their own.

An official at the time stated: “At this stage, it is too dangerous for police and emergency services to reach the island.” However, rescuers proceeded regardless.

A rescuer, who remained anonymous in the trailer, said: “Doing nothing was not an option. We had to do it ourselves.”

Another rescuer recalled telling authorities that more help was needed as additional survivors were being found.

Rescue teams were able to locate 39 people on the island, although not all survived their injuries.

On December 9, 2019, Matthew and Lauren were exploring the island with a group when they saw ash quietly rising from the volcano’s center. Within seconds, they began running for their lives. They sought shelter behind a rock near the water, but a dense cloud of volcanic gas quickly engulfed the island.

As ash and debris fell, Lauren held her husband’s hand and told him she loved him. In a 2020 interview with TVNZ, she said: “I thought I only had seconds left to live.”

Matthew said: “It was the darkest and most terrifying thing I have ever seen in my life. You couldn’t see your hand in front of your face. You could only feel your skin burning. You could feel rocks hitting your helmet.”

The couple was among the few who managed to reach the island’s pier, but Lauren had lost her breathing apparatus and was inhaling toxic gas.

Screams from other survivors could be heard from a nearby tour boat, as their blistered skin peeled away. The group was eventually rescued by a boat that had turned back despite the danger. Survivors endured a 90-minute journey back to shore.

Lauren described it as “torture,” adding: “I was completely convinced it was the end for both of us. I don’t know how we survived.”

The couple spent nearly two months recovering in separate hospitals due to their injuries. They returned to the United States in late January and remained hospitalized until mid-February. Matthew and Lauren underwent multiple additional surgeries during their recovery.