An 82-year-old man says he's lucky to be alive after waiting alone, without food or water, after breaking his back.
The man was shocked with 14,000 volts, then dragged himself home. But it would still be a week before help arrived.
Independence is a matter of pride for Peter Bradbury, but today he's happy to have family at his side.
"I think I was extremely lucky," he says.
That's because independence nearly cost him his life. The 82-year-old lives alone on his Waikato property.
A fortnight ago Mr Bradbury was up a ladder pruning his trees when the tool he was using struck overhead wires. He was thrown from his ladder, blacking out as he fell.
"I don't remember anything after that. I don't remember hitting the ground at all. I just fell like a stone."
With broken ribs and a broken back, Mr Bradbury couldn't stand, so he dragged himself home.
The ladder Mr Bradbury was using is still at the property, next to the tool that he dropped when he fell. It's from there he dragged himself 75 metres up a hill and into his house.
Mr Bradbury made it to the kitchen, where his cellphone sat on a bench, out of reach.
"I arrived at the cellphone, which was tantalisingly close but I just couldn't get enough thrust on anything to hook it down."
He could do nothing but wait, losing count of the days and nights, all the while knowing help might not come.
"It crosses your mind, but I'm the sort of fellow that travels hopefully."
Mr Bradbury was found about a week later by a hunter who stopped in and called for help.
Hospital staff say it was not a moment too soon.
"He was in a pretty bad state. He'd been lying in his house for six to eight days," says Waikato Hospital nurse Michelle Barry. "I don't think he'd been eating or drinking properly for that whole time either."
He'll return back home soon -- independent once more but eternally grateful.
Newshub.
