Whakaari/White Island: Gas masks shielded lungs, surgeon believes
Gas masks protected the lungs of people caught in the Whakaari/White Island eruption, a surgeon believes.
Waikato Hospital took in eight critically injured patients on the evening of the disaster.
“We thought there would be a lot more lung injuries, as well, from inhalation,” trauma director Grant Christey said.
“What we learned later, from the people who went out there, was most of [the tourists] had gas masks on,” he said. They put their gas masks firmly on their faces and closed their eyes and tried to get through it.”
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Stuff: Libby Wilson, December 19, 2019
