KEY POINTS:
The sole survivor of a suspected carbon monoxide poisoning tragedy has spoken for the first time about the incident that claimed the lives of two of his friends.
Jayson Basson is recovering at his Hamilton home with his pregnant wife after being released from hospital on Friday.
The 33-year-old said the incident was a "huge shock" and a "big blur". He was "full of pain" and on "very strong" medication.
"My life is still very much upside down."
Basson was on a fishing trip with Derek Hamilton, a 50-year-old stock purchaser, and Martin Van Rensburg, a 37-year-old store manager.
Their partners were at a baby shower for his wife.
The bodies of Hamilton and Van Rensburg were found in their beds at Ruapuke Motor Camp, 20km south of Raglan, two weeks ago.
The three South African-born men took a charcoal barbecue into their cabin to keep warm.
Basson survived and was transferred to North Shore Hospital's high dependency unit after receiving oxygen treatment at the Navy Hospital in Devonport.
The Navy Hospital has a hyperbaric chamber, a treatment used for the diving sickness known as the "bends".
Basson said his friends' widows were "obviously grieving".
"It's a huge shock to the system. But you know, we are all trying our best."
His wife, who asked not to be named, said she was trying to get her husband "to heal".
"Jayson is going through a lot of emotional things as well.
"At the moment we just want to get our lives back together and Jayson has just got out of hospital and I need to get him organised."
