Iain Findlay, a 78-year-old former AFL team manager and police detective, remains hospitalized following a brutal road rage incident last Thursday night. His brutal attack subsequently left him with life-threatening injuries unless medically treated. A driver hit him, dragging him down the trolley tracks before leaving him on the interstate. Findlay is scheduled for more skin grafts. He is likely to stay at The Avenue private hospital in Melbourne for at least another month.
The whole situation began when Findlay tried to pull over a 19 year-old man in a Toyota Yaris. Findlay first became embroiled in the controversy. It increased when he tried to obtain the driver’s information after having a rock thrown through his back window.
“A guy pulled up and threw a rock at the car so I tried to push him over to the side to get his details,” – Iain Findlay
As Findlay got out of his car and approached the driver’s side, the driver hit the gas. The car hit Findlay and dragged him over 260 feet before leaving him on the highway.
“And as I got out of the car, he gunned his car straight at me, smashed into me, trapped me and travelled for about 80 metres with me underneath the car.” – Iain Findlay
Witnesses report that a nurse and a doctor stopped to assist Findlay after he was left lying on the road. In retrospect, he believes the immediate action of medical professionals played a key role in his survival.
Last week, authorities arrested the driver of the second car, a Toyota Yaris, after an extensive manhunt. Based on video footage and witness testimony, investigators believe both drivers had been involved in a previous road rage incident before the crash.
“One thing’s for certain, Iain Findlay is lucky to be alive,” – Xander McGuire
Findlay’s rich background of being a police detective for 21 years, coupled with being a veteran of the Vietnam War, among other things, has tremendously impacted his success. He has previously been team manager for Essendon, Fitzroy (Lions), South Melbourne (Sydney), and Victoria. He was a hugely influential AFL tribunal champion, revered for protecting the game.
The whole incident has left a serious emotional scar on both Findlay and his wife. Experts agree that its psychological influence is profound and impossible to quantify.
“There’s no way to measure the psychological impact on Findlay and his wife,” – Xander McGuire
