Ian Turnham, 71, is believed to have been electrocuted on the roof of his Highfield Cct, Port Macquarie, home on Wednesday while he was carrying out repair work.

His wife rushed to neighbours David and Robyn Dale for help about 5.30pm.

“She [Mrs Turnham] said that her husband had been up on the roof trying to fix the aerial and she was not able to rouse him,” Mrs Dale said.

Mr Dale ran next door and used a ladder to climb up to the roof, where he found Mr Turnham lying face down.

The neighbour could hear “sparking sounds” in the roof and turned off power to the house.

NSW Ambulance officers arrived at the scene shortly afterwards, but were unable to revive Mr Turnham.

A shocked Mrs Dale said Mr Turnham had been a good neighbour.

“Ian was a very quiet man,” Mrs Dale said.

“They were very private people, but we knew we were always there for each other as neighbours.”

Her husband, too traumatised to talk about the tragedy itself, agreed.

“He [Mr Turnham] was an absolute gentleman,’’ Mr Dale said.

“He never had a negative word to say about anything or anybody.”

Another of Mr Turnham’s neighbours, Brian Weelands, also was upset.

He found out about Mr Turnham’s death when he saw the ambulance driving down the street.

“I’ve been living next door to [Mr Turnham] for quite a while,” he said.

“I’m devastated.’’

“He’d always help you out, and we’d chat together.”

A Country Energy spokeswoman said the company was helping with police investigations.

Power supplies to about 1600 customers – between Boronia St and areas surrounding the Oxley Hwy – were turned off just before 6pm on Wednesday but were restored about 15 minutes later.

Police will prepare a report for the NSW Coroner.