The 19-year-old drainlayer was severely injured by his neighbour's dog just after the December 23 earthquakes in Christchurch. He had returned home to find the dog in distress from the earthquakes.
"I knew the dog really well," he said. "I'm round there most days playing with it and stroking it."
Archbold walked on to the property and calmed the Weimaraner down by petting it.
"As I went to open the gate, the dog just jumped up and latched on to my arm and would not let go," he said.
While Archbold's girlfriend looked on in a panic, the dog "savaged" his arm, ripping into flesh and muscles while blood spurted out.
"At first I couldn't feel anything," he said. "I couldn't believe what was happening. The dog was just insane and my girlfriend was screaming."
After a prolonged struggle, he managed to free himself and get to Christchurch hospital. Although the wounds were serious, the bites did not sever any tendons or pierce any arteries.
Archbold immediately had reconstructive plastic surgery and after a second round of surgery, he was told that he would be able to come to Golden Bay as planned for his annual holiday in Pohara.
"At first the doctor told me not to go and I was gutted," he said. "We've been coming to Pohara for 15 years and I just needed to come up here with my family."
Even the wet weather has not dampened Archbold's spirits. "I'm thinking about wrapping my cast in a bag and going for a swim."
Amazingly, Mr Archbold has full movement in his fingers and the doctors expect him to make a full recovery.
The dog belongs to Mr Archbold's neighbour, who is also his landlord. He is trusting the owner to make appropriate decisions about the dog's future.
"I'm just so happy to be in Golden Bay," he said. "This is the best thing for my recovery."
(Stuff.co.nz - Jan 3, 2012)
