KEY POINTS:
The climber who lost his right leg below the knee as a result of Tuesday night's eruption on Mt Ruapehu is stable after further surgery this morning.
William Pike's father Barry earlier said his son also had renal (kidney) failure which was being treated.
His family, friends, colleagues and students have either visited him or sent messages of support as he embarks on the long road to recovery.
Earlier Mr Pike was described as a "smart, fit, capable nice guy" whose personality "gels extremely well" with his profession as a schoolteacher.
Martin Grant, chairman of Clevedon School in rural Manukau City, said 22-year-old Mr Pike was a fantastic role model for the children he came into contact with at the school.
"He and James Christie [his climbing companion on Tuesday] are with us for half a week while they're completing their postgraduate studies. William is a very, very good teacher and is well respected by everyone. My son had him as a teacher."
Mr Christie and Mr Pike had in the past week come back from a Year 8 camp at Kawau Island, where they supervised children in outdoor pursuits.
"He's got a very strong outdoor bent and amazing skill in the classroom," Mr Grant said.
"He's very easygoing but also intelligent. I think he has a lot of potential and he'll go a long way in education."
It had been a shock to staff to learn what had happened to their two colleagues on the mountain.
"Once he gets over the shock of not having it [his lower right leg], I think he will bounce back. When he gets used to it and has his prosthesis, he'll be back doing exactly the same sorts of things he's always done. He's that sort of Mark Inglis-type guy."
Waikato Hospital spokeswoman Mary Anne Gill said Mr Pike's brother Andrew and their parents were at his bedside yesterday.
Mr Pike had some minor surgery early in the day and it was expected there would be further surgery in weeks to come, Ms Gill said.
She rubbished reports that he had taken a turn for the worse and was in a drug-induced coma.
