Mr Soper, Fulton Hogan's company secretary, is reflecting on his brush with death while recuperating at his Port Chalmers home.
The 53-year-old was discharged on Monday, a week after being admitted to Dunedin Hospital with the rare meningococcal septicaemia (blood poisoning) C. The strain killed the company's New Zealand chief executive, Bill Perry, on July 30.
The two men had attended meetings in Christchurch and Auckland days before Mr Perry died.
Because of his connection to Mr Perry, Mr Soper was put on intravenous antibiotics immediately after he went to a doctor, despite not having classic meningococcal symptoms.
"If not for him, I probably wouldn't be alive.
"It plays on your mind."
A father of two adult daughters, Mr Soper was thinking a lot about Mr Perry's wife and three children.
An Australian with a "chirpy" personality, Mr Perry thrived in the Christchurch-based role. He had immersed himself in Kiwi culture after moving from Melbourne about five years ago.
Mr Soper was at his holiday home in Alexandra when he learned of Mr Perry's death, a few hours earlier.
Mr Soper had returned to Dunedin from Auckland on the Thursday night after a series of high-level meetings, and gone to work as usual on the Friday. He and wife Paula left Dunedin for Alexandra the next morning.
Mr Soper was preoccupied with the death, and put down a lack of sleep to grief.
"I got quite a shock. He was a hell of a nice guy."
Back in Dunedin on the Monday morning, after a particularly poor night's sleep when he had muscle aches and struggled to find a comfortable position, Mr Soper was "washed out" and unsteady on his feet.
Because of a warning issued to those in contact with Mr Perry, Mr Soper sought immediate medical attention.
He is full of praise for Dunedin Urgent Doctors and Accident Centre, where a doctor immediately started him on intravenous antibiotics and sent him to Dunedin Hospital.
At the hospital, he was found to have worryingly low blood pressure and dehydration.
He was treated with intravenous antibiotics for seven days, part of which was spent in isolation, and was constantly monitored.
He was surprised to have the disease confirmed, the day after being admitted. Until then, both he and Mrs Soper believed his illness was coincidental, and the treatment a precaution.
Classic symptoms such as a rash, sensitivity to light, and neck cramps were absent.
The main symptom which stood out as unusual was weakness in his legs, and he urged people to be aware it could be a sign.
Mr and Mrs Soper are extremely impressed by the professionalism and skill of Dunedin Hospital staff.
"The public health system has a lot of critics, but I can't fault the care," Mr Soper said.
Unable to attend Mr Perry's funeral last Friday, Mr Soper paid tribute in hospital, aided by a special DVD created by colleagues.
Mr Soper still feels low in energy, but is in good spirits, and is doing office work from home while he gets back to normal.
