Moose,

You're a science teacher. Think about what you're reporting! A properly installed bonding system turns the entire pool and deck into an open top Faraday cage. To the extent that there is ANY potential between one element in the cage, and another member . . . to that extent, the cage is defective.

Granted, under extreme currents (lightning!), there will be a potential across the cage. But even then, someone IN the pool should be in a very high resistance path, compared to all the other available low resistance paths.

Pool was WELL bonded and there was no current leak from the house or pumpworks
In fact, unless I'm really missing something here, your friend's story proves that the pool was NOT well bonded. Having passed inspection (in the past) and being well bonded (today) are NOT the same things!

Lots of things that 'pass inspection' don't remain safe or effective. Conduit grounds have nearly killed me twice, once in a restaurant under the dishwasher (I'm a plumber, and used to do commercial service) and once in a pool room . . . even though both systems passed NEC inspection. (I *hate* EMT and LMT conduit grounds -- I'd outlaw them, if I could! They ALWAYS fail.)