‘Couldn’t breathe’: Brendan Fevola details major health scare

The footy great’s health scare prompted him to get a full check-up, which resulted in a surprise finding for the three-time All Australian.

Brendan Fevola in hospital and on the footy field. Photos: Supplied/NewsWire

Brendan Fevola has detailed a heart scare that prompted him to head straight to his doctor for “the lot” when it comes to health tests.

The former Carlton star set off for a bushwalk in the Dandenong Ranges when he suddenly found he was struggling to breathe.

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The 43-year-old recounted the whole dramatic episode on his radio show, The Fox’s Fifi, Fev & Nick, on Tuesday.

“Yesterday (Monday), I went and got a health check,” the three-time All Australian began.

“I think it’s important for all people to get health checks but especially for males over 40.

“I’ll be like, ‘Oh my heart’s sore, it’ll go away’, and that’s mentally what we think because we’re stupid people.

“I did the 1000 Steps (Walk in Dandenong) the other day and I’ve got this heart app on my phone and I got halfway up and I couldn’t breathe.”

Brendan Fevola in hospital and on the footy field. Photos: Supplied/NewsWire

Fevola, who played 204 games with the Blues and Brisbane Lions, kicking 623 goals, then used his heart app and got an alarming response.

“You put your finger on (the app) and it gets your pulse,” he said. “And it was like 63 (BPM or beats per minute), or something, it was the lowest it’s ever been.

“So we just thought I was fit. When I got home, I told (Fevola’s wife) Alex and she goes, ‘Well, do it now’.

“I was on my recliner and I was like 120 (BPM) for two hours, just sitting there.

“I booked in to see the doctor yesterday and I said, ‘I want the lot, blood tests, ECG, give everything to me’.”

After retiring in 2010 with two Coleman Medals and as a seven-time Carlton goalkicking leader, Fevola has continued to lace up the boots and get back out on the footy field.

This was supposed to be Fevola’s last game, seen here with daughters Leni and Lulu.

Despite vowing last year’s grand final victory with the Diamond Valley Superules over-35 side in the Victorian Superules League was his last ever game, Fevola’s daughter revealed in May her dad is still playing park footy in 2024.

Fevola, who has had public issues with drinking, gambling and depression in the past, was given a mostly promising report from the doctor.

“I had an ECG test, which tests for heart attacks and everything; it was normal which was good,” he said.

“Got them all back straight away. The other test included diabetes, cholesterol, prostate test, iron, kidney, I got liver.

“That’s what I was worried about … my liver. Everything has come back normal.

Fevola’s AFL career ended with a short stint with the Brisbane Lions.

“(The doctor) said the only thing I would advise is … which is amazing and I don’t know where this has come from … but she said, your stress level’s a little high, you need to relax more (laughs).

“It’s weird because even when I do that thing with my phone, it says my stress is real high.

“The doctor said the only thing she’d advise is that my stress levels are a bit high and I need to relax.

“She said don’t rely on the apps (for your heart rate). They’re pretty good but not perfect.

“I was in bed, relaxing, because she said my stress levels are high.”

When one of his co-hosts questioned how the typically laid-back character could have high stress levels, Fevola replied in trademark style.

“I went and got the test and then I got the results back last night,” he said. “Seven-hour turnaround.

“So, hey, give me a beer!”

Originally published as ‘Couldn’t breathe’: Brendan Fevola details major health scare