Kiwi captures 'car-size' lava bombs from volcanic eruption in Indonesia

Huge "car-sized" pieces of molten rock can be seen hurtling down the volcano towards the boat in Indonesia. Photo / Getty Images

A sightseeing trip almost ended in disaster when huge lava bombs came crashing down around a tourist boat.

Thrill seeker Matthew Davison, 34, captured the sudden eruption from the Anak Krakatau volcano near Jakarta, Indonesia, from the boat.

Mr Davison, who is from Auckland, New Zealand, said "car-sized" pieces of molten rock came hurting down the volcano and splashed into the water around him, according to the Daily Mail.

Near miss as huge lava bombs come crashing down near our boat

Near miss as huge lava bombs come crashing down near our boat Here it is folks. Anak Krakatau in all its anger. We certainly weren't expecting an eruption of this size - it came out of nowhere. We're all safe! With Geoff Mackley

Posted by Extreme Pursuit on Wednesday, 17 October 2018

In the dramatic footage filmed on Tuesday, glowing rocks can be seen flying through the air, surrounded by smoke and people can be heard shouting.

After a few seconds the camera zooms out to show a huge plume of black smoke coming from the volcano and going high into the sky.

Mr Davison said: "It was only when I heard loud splashing sounds near our boat that I realised we were in real danger.

"Huge lava bombs were dropping around us and, if hit, would have easily destroyed the small boat we were on. Thankfully, the captain got us quickly to safety."

When he's not in the pursuit of danger Mr Davison, who describes himself as a "born traveller and adventurer", works as a team leader in an office.

Despite his close encounter on the boat, Mr Davison described the experience as "mesmerising."

He said: "While dangerous, watching the eruption was mesmerising. The lava bombs were coming in so fast, it was impossible to dodge them.

"We had luck on our side that nothing hit our boat. While Mother Nature is sometimes a very destructive and fearsome force, she puts on an amazing show."

The island of Krakatoa erupted in 1883, killing thousands in one of the worst geologic disasters of modern times.

A new island, Anak Krakatau, emerged from the caldera and is the current location of the eruption.