When nine close friends embarked on a cruise earlier this month, they looked forward to "a wonderful holiday together" with no idea of the tragedy that lay ahead.
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On Wednesday night, three of them - Australians Jason Griffiths, Karla Mathews and Richard Elzer - were confirmed dead in a statement issued by the remaining members of the group.
The trio had taken an excursion to New Zealand's White Island on the day of a deadly volcano eruption.
Their six surviving friends - Alex, Daniel, Ellie, Leanne, Paul and Samantha - said they were "devastated" to learn the trio were visiting the island when the eruption occurred on Monday.
They later discovered Mr Elzer and Ms Mathews were still on the island, where there were no signs of life.
"We then located our third friend, Jason Griffiths, in a hospital in the early hours of the next morning," their statement issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.
"From that moment until the moment of his passing, Jason was surrounded by friends and family members."
The group was "incredibly saddened to have lost three of our closest friends" and asked that their privacy be respected.
Seven Australians have now been confirmed dead in the New Zealand disaster.
Australian Associated Press