The blind 84-year-old had fallen into floodwaters and was pulled downstream for an agonising 22km, the river current so strong it pulled his false teeth out.

As the hours dragged on and his skin started to burn from the autumn sun, panic began to set in.

His voice had grown hoarse from repeatedly, desperately calling out for help and swallowing large amounts of water from the murky river.

But he kept calling.

The Hawthorn great was widely regarded as one of the toughest, most aggressive rovers during his career on the footy field.

There is little doubt this ferocity is the very reason he’s alive today.

Where others would have lost hope, Ian never did.

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