Pilot says he jumped into ocean to escape New Zealand volcano that killed 22

A helicopter pilot said in court on Thursday he and two of his passengers had escaped serious injury by jumping into the ocean when a New Zealand volcano erupted in 2019, killing 22.

Another two of pilot Brian Depauw's joy flight passengers did not make it to the water, were engulfed by a cloud of hot ash from the White Island eruption and suffered serious burns.

"The water is what saved us," Depauw told the court.