WATCH: Former Razorback Peyton Hillis opens up about near-death ocean rescue

Former Razorback star Peyton Hillis was on Good Morning America to recount the dramatic ocean rescue that nearly cost him his life earlier this year.

In January of this year, reports began to surface regarding former Arkansas running back [autotag]Peyton Hillis[/autotag] being injured in an accident of the coast of Florida.

The details were pretty scare at the time, but it was confirmed that Hillis was in critical condition after saving one of his children and a relative from drowning in a rip current off the coast of Florida.

Now, Hillis is finally speaking out and offering details of the dramatic incident that nearly cost him his life. In an exclusive interview with Good Morning America’s Michael Strahan, Hillis went through the events leading to the accident, his thought-process during the rescue and his recovery. The full interview is linked below.

“I hear my mom screaming and so I looked at her and she pointed out to my son and [they were] drowning” Hillis said while recounting the dramatic event. “So, I didn’t even think, I just reacted and started running into the water.”

Hillis was able to save his niece and son but would have to spend ten days on a ventilator in the hospital following the rescue. In the interview, the Conway (Ark.) native shared how this experience has changed him.

“It makes you realize what’s really important,” said Hillis. “If you’re not here for your loved ones, your family or your friends, why are you here? You can say you want to pursue this career, make this money, have this wife or husband – none of it matters. At the end of the day, none of it matters.”

Hillis, 36, played running back at Arkansas from 2004-2007 where he finished his career with 203 carries for 959 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also tallied an impressive 118 receptions for 1,195 yards and 11 touchdowns – all while playing in one of the most impressive backfields in program history.

He went on to have a solid NFL career, playing for five different teams over the span of seven seasons. In 2011, following the best season of his career with the Cleveland Browns, Hillis was voted cover athlete of the popular NFL video game Madden 12.

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