A dad has lost both his arms after suffering a huge electric shock while working on a building site.
Jahden Nelson, a father of three young children, was dismantling scaffolding when a steel pole he was holding touched a low-hanging power line last Tuesday in Auckland, New Zealand.
A high voltage current sent a fireball through the scaffolding and into the 28-year-old's body - leaving him in intensive care with horrific burns to his arms as well as internal injuries.
A witness said they heard a loud explosion, his mum Toni Paikea said.
Toni said: "The pole touched the power line and she heard a big bang and saw a big fire ball go through under the scaffolding.
"Then [Jahden] collapsed. I don't know how many volts go through those lines.
"It was like an atomic bomb going off in his body. It went from one arm, through the other arm and straight down through his leg and thigh."
Jahden's cousin held him in his arms has an ambulance was called.
There are now questions around why the tradesmen were working beneath live wires and whether proper health and safety procedures had been followed.
Jahden, an experienced scaffolder who started working at 16, suffered a heart attack and burns to 25-35 per cent of his body, as well as severe internal injuries, reports the New Zealand Herald.
He was rushed to Auckland City Hospital for immediate surgery where he was placed in intensive care.
Days later his mum had to make the agonising decision to amputate his right arm, before medics went on to amputate his left over fears of potentially fatal infection.
Doctors now say the next few weeks will be critical as to whether Jahden lives - with the prospect of facing years of rehabilitation.
His mum and sister have been keeping vigil at the hospital since the accident.
Due to the risk of infection, only one visitor is permitted in his room at a time. Jahden's former partner and mother of his children is alternating with Toni at her son's bedside.
Toni said the family had been flooded with messages of support, some of whom had provided food and were also sleeping in cars at the hospital "to show their love and gratitude for my son".
