Kevin Sheedy opens up on mystery illness when ‘lights went out’ during Queensland holiday

Australian football Hall of Fame Legend Kevin Sheedy has opened up for the first on the mystery virus that struck him earlier this year.

The 76-year-old was on holiday on the Sunshine Coast in August when he collapsed suddenly and blacked out for two hours.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Kevin Sheedy fights back mystery virus.

He spent a number of weeks in hospital where doctors were scratching their heads trying to work out what caused the frightening health episode.

Speaking about the incident for the first time to 7NEWS, Sheedy said he did have fears it could have been the end.

“I’m much better than I was a couple of months back, in Queensland,” he said.

“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.”

Attempting to explain what happened, Sheedy says the bizarre and unexplained moment lives only in his mind now — but he would like to change that.

And he wants to do it in a way that only he — one of football’s great innovators and creative thinkers — could.

“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,” Sheedy tells 7NEWS.

“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.”

Doctors said it must have been a virus he picked up, be it in Australia or abroad.

The legendary VFL/AFL coach and player can’t even recall what, if any, his symptoms were.

“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.”

Sheedy lost around six kilograms of weight during his stint in hospital — to which there is a silver lining, he laughs.

“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,” Sheedy said.

“But in general, I’m probably fortunate to be here. I’m here; I’ll take that.”

Sheedy said he’s had somewhere between 500 and 600 messages from people concerned about him when they heard the news.

He’s still getting back to them now.

It’s not lost on the living legend that it could have been the end for him that day. He’s thankful it wasn’t, but it has forced some reflection.

“I’ve always thought that if the doctor rings up and says you’ve got three weeks to live, I’ve always thought about: have I been happy with what I’ve done in my life to say I could die peacefully?” Sheedy said.

“If I had have dropped off the perch a couple of months back, I’d say I’ve done a pretty good effort. I never let my parents down which is, in my mind, most important — or family.”