Wheelchair-bound North Lismore resident Brian Burgin narrowly escaped the February 28 flood with his life.
Neighbours knocked on his door at about 3am that fateful day and wheeled him out of the danger zone with freezing cold water up to his chest.
Mr Burgin said he didn't want to die in a future flood and is ready to sell his home back to the government and go north to Queensland.
"If I am going to die, I don't want to drown," he said.
"The other day when the flood warnings were out, that scared the hell out of me.
"I've got to get away from floods. It is just tickling the brain at the moment."
Mr Burgin said the last eight months had left him doubting and double guessing what his future might be.
"What do you do with your house? Do you spend money on it? Because you have got to spend a lot of money to get it back," he said.
"Then if you don't get a buyback you are months and months behind.
"Now there is a future. I know I am out of here to buy something."
That's why he was happy to see Prime Minster Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet turn up to his flood damaged home on Friday and announce a package worth $800 million for residents like him.
"I never thought the day would happen sometimes with the way politicians mess around," he said.
"Today's announcement is great news."
"Fair dinkum every politician from 100 miles was here so hopefully they will do what they promise."
Mr Burgin said he wanted to head somewhere in Queensland where it was warm and out of the flood zone.
"This is a great place to live, and it will be a shame to lose it, but I couldn't face another flood," he said.
I'm a media professional with over 34 years of experience in public relations and journalism, including a decade setting Lismore's news agenda as the editor of The Northern Star. I have proven track record in growing audiences and improving engagement by delivering quality local stories for and about the Lismore community.
I'm a media professional with over 34 years of experience in public relations and journalism, including a decade setting Lismore's news agenda as the editor of The Northern Star. I have proven track record in growing audiences and improving engagement by delivering quality local stories for and about the Lismore community.
