Graeme Souness, the renowned football legend, has successfully swum across the English Channel to raise £1 million for charity.
The former Liverpool player embarked on this challenge after meeting Isla Grist, a 14-year-old suffering from the rare skin disease Epidermolysis bullosa.
During an emotional interview with the BBC, Souness tearfully described the condition as "the cruellest disease out there."
The 70-year-old, residing in Dorset, completed the 21-mile swim in 12 hours and 17 minutes.
He participated in the endeavor alongside five other men, including Isla's father, with the aim of raising funds for Debra UK, an organization that supports individuals affected by Epidermolysis bullosa, also known as butterfly skin.
The charity took to Twitter to extend its "huge congratulations" to Souness and his fellow swimmers.
In a discussion on BBC Breakfast prior to undertaking the grueling test of endurance, the former Rangers and Scotland player recounted his encounter with Isla from the Scottish Highlands.
Struggling to hold back tears, he described her as "the most unique person I've ever met."
"She always does this to me. She's an inspiration to me, even at my age," he expressed.
Isla, hailing from Black Isle near Inverness, has lived with the condition since birth and requires full-body bandages, which are changed three times a week in an excruciatingly painful procedure.
Souness disclosed that he first learned about the disease approximately five years ago and has since developed a close bond with Isla. He finds her courage immensely inspiring.
"This disease... it's the cruelest, nastiest disease. For someone so young to be so brave... and Isla is aware of the impact this has on her parents, yet she helps them," he shared.
"You're in the presence of a truly special young lady. She really is. And every time I'm with her, she brings me to tears." Photo by MagentaGreen, Wikimedia commons.