Shocked boatie cheated death

Riki Te Tau had to be airlifted to Wellington Hospital after receiving an electric shock from overhead powerlines. Photo / Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter

A man who suffered an electric shock when the mast of a boat struck power lines says a lapse in concentration "killed" him.

Masterton man Riki Te Tau, 38, was manoeuvring the boat out of the water when the mast struck overhead lines at the Outward Bound School at Anakiwa in the Marlborough Sounds on Monday.

Outward Bound staff performed CPR before St John Ambulance arrived and he was flown to Wellington Hospital.

Mr Te Tau issued a statement today saying that despite his condition, he was in good spirits.

"It was a shocker of a situation, and one momentary lapse of concentration killed me. I am super lucky the Outward Bound crew were on hand to bring me back. I am ecstatic."

Mr Te Tau was pulling the boat toward a grass area when the incident occurred.

"I had manoeuvred the boat onto the edge of the grass to lower the mast and get under the power lines. I hadn't yet started lowering the mast when it came close - about 50 centimetres - to the lines and an electricity arc came from the lines to the top of the mast.

"It passed through the mast, the boat and then the electric shock got me."

He remembered the incident clearly, including looking up and realising that he was being shocked by the overhead lines.

Mr Te Tau is the partner of an Outward Bound instructor and lives on site at the Outward Bound school in Anakiwa.

He was not involved in an Outward Bound course at the time, and none of the school's students were involved in the incident.

Outward Bound chief executive Trevor Taylor said Mr Te Tau was in good spirits.

"He's back to his cheeky self," he said.

"He's talking, he's laughing. He realises he's been there and back."

Outward Bound would conduct a review, he said.

Mr Taylor said WorkSafe had already looked into the event and would not investigate further.

"We have also been talking to the lines company ... because it is a hazard for the general public," he said.