AFL legend Kevin Sheedy has revealed he ‘fortunate to be here’ after a medical emergency struck while he was on holidays with his family.
The 76-year-old former GWS and Essendon coach had been visiting family on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland when he fell ill and needed urgent medical attention.
He required urgent medical attention and was hospitalised for several days, with his wife Geraldine issuing a statement on behalf of the family.
‘Kevin was visiting family on the Sunshine Coast when he got a fever and sought medical treatment,’ she said.
‘He has since been admitted into hospital to undertake tests to determine the cause of the problem.
‘Like all sports people, he’d prefer not to be spending time on the bench and he’s looking forward to getting back to Melbourne and resuming his commitments as soon as possible.’
Kevin Sheedy, pictured with wife Geraldine, suffered a medical episode while on holiday on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland in August
The former GWS and Essendon coach initially feared he had suffered a heart attack
Now Sheedy has opened up on the scary episode and admitted he had scaled back his work commitments as a result.
‘I’m much better than I was a couple of months back, in Queensland,’ he told Channel 7.
‘It’s just pleasing to get back on your feet.
‘Probably in my lifetime, it was fairly important to reflect about just hitting the deck on a floor in your hotel room and waking up a couple of hours later and trying to get back to Melbourne to try and get some treatment.
‘In the end, I was in hospital in Queensland for a couple of weeks, they were fantastic people … then I ended up coming back to Melbourne.
‘In reflection, I’ve probably slowed down a little bit, but I love work. I just really enjoy inspiring Australians with creative thinking, energy, and making sure that you give your life your best chance because, really, your life’s a gift from your parents, and you shouldn’t let them down.’
Sheedy was hospitalised for several days where he was treated for a virus that had caused him to black out
Looking on the positive side, Sheedy said he could now wear his old suits and clothes again
Sheedy described what was going through his mind as he lay prone on the floor of his hotel room.
‘Lights went out. I found myself looking for my phone about two hours later, just to make sure I could get up and get the Uber to the airport to get home to Melbourne, which I eventually did, which was good,’ he said.
‘There were lots of colours going through my mind then. I know exactly in my head what happened, and I’ll get an artist to paint it one day. Incredible colours went through my mind.
‘I’ve never spoken about it, but I think I’ll go and get an artist to draw that.
‘No one thinks you’re going to have a heart attack or just drop out of existence for a few hours of your life.
‘Anyway, I’m really enjoying being back here in Melbourne. I went to the finals and a couple of events I’ve done and spoken at, which is really good.’
The champion coach initially thought he was having a heart attack before medical experts confirmed he had been struck down by a virus.
‘I don’t know. I thought I had a heart attack, but I don’t know what a heart attack is,’ Sheedy said.
‘And of course, the other thing was that the brilliant specialist that I had treating me said they couldn’t find what the virus was, but they believe that I’ve had a very serious virus, caught somewhere in Australia or overseas — I’d been overseas talking at a conference.
‘They said it was quite amazing they (couldn’t) find it, but it does happen now and then, so I’ve just got to park that and move on with my life.
‘I lost a stone in weight. I’ve got a whole new array of clothes and suits that I can wear again, which is fantastic.
‘But in general, I’m probably fortunate to be here. I’m here; I’ll take that.’
