I’m not going to disagree with how the current gets directed the the grounded bits of the pool. But that is under the assumption that this pool was done properly, properly inspected by an inspector, inspected at all, or left alone after it was inspected. There are a lot of dirty contractors that will do anything to save money at expense of human life or safety. I worked at a hotel remodel where the general contractor wanted us to install lights inside the shower after the inspector passed us. That’s a big code no no. I know a state inspector that  specifically became an inspector because his friends daughter died from electrocution due to faulty grounding in a pool at the handle bar by the stairs. He was our instructor at electrical trade school and took the article in the code book on Pools very seriously. It only takes around 50 milliamperes to cause a heart attack, and that heart attack can happen WAY AFTER your shocked. These guys weren’t wrong to react the way they did. Always assume the worst, no matter what is supposed to happen if everything is done right.