TV journo saves drowning man

Barbara Dreaver from <i>One News</i> (centre) with Masayuki Nakayama and his wife Ayako in Tahiti. Photo / Supplied

A Japanese man brought back to life by TVNZ's Pacific correspondent after a snorkelling accident in Tahiti has come out of a 14-day coma.

Journalist Barbara Dreaver flew back to meet Masayuki Nakayama, 31, last week after a harrowing experience in which the One News reporter and cameraman Mike Fitzgerald played key roles in saving the man's life on June 27.

The Kiwi pair were on assignment in Bora Bora when Nakayama nearly drowned.

Recalling the incident this week, Dreaver said, "He was dead. There was no pulse. His eyes were half open and glazed and there was foam coming out of his mouth."

With Fitzgerald applying chest compression, Dreaver started mouth-to-mouth. "We started counting together and I started giving the breaths and at the same time telling his wife, Ayako, to keep calm and to keep looking at me and that we'd do our best for him."

They worked on Nakayama for 10 minutes before they felt a heartbeat. "Fitz felt under his hand this 'boof' - even I felt it and then he started bringing stuff up." With Nakayama breathing on his own, a holidaying American doctor arrived to take over.

Still unconscious, Nakayama was flown to Papeete and remained in a coma for days.

"The hotel staff told us they would update us with emails when we got back to New Zealand. The emails kept saying there was no change."

However, Nakayama eventually started to respond to his doctors and wife, Ayako. "He would squeeze her hand every time they talked. His eyes were open but there was no emotion. He was still in a coma."

On learning this week he had finally woken, Dreaver decided she had to see him so she flew to Papeete at her own expense.

"I blubbed like a baby and so did they. Ayako said Masayuki was in ICU for 14 days. The doctors said if he lived he would be brain dead.

"We were in a cafe and we saw this couple walk in but I didn't think it was them because he was walking. Ayako gasped and came belting across the room saying 'Thank you, thank you'. Then he came over, he gave me a hug and I put my hand on his heart. He just nodded and he bowed - it was a special moment."

The couple were to return to Japan today and Dreaver said she would stay in touch.