Newcastle Knights legend Matty Johns has recounted a terrifying medical emergency earlier in the week where he was rushed to hospital after unbearable pain around his ribs.
The former Newcastle star felt some pain which he thought was old battle wounds from his playing days, but after lying in bed and the situation deteriorating, he called for an ambulance.
Immediate fears were sparked Johns was suffering a heart attack, but it was later confirmed to be nerve problems around his spine and sternum.
"The other night I'm on 360 and I'm touching it and it's hurting and when I got home, I jumped into bed. What happened next was no laughing matter," Johns said on SEN's Morning Glory.
"My body started every few minutes having a seizure and I'm worried this is getting serious, I might have to go to hospital.
"I said to Trish, 'can you drive me' and she said ‘just call an ambulance'.
"Called the ambulance. In the meantime I am against a wall, I can't sit down. My body is in full spasm, my heart is beating out of my chest.
"They have come in (paramedics) I'm fighting back the tears. I said the pain was 10/10.
"The ambos were unbelievable; they did the ECG and I had an elevated heart rate but they thought it was because of the pain.
"They threw me on the stretcher and they have taken me out.
"They gave me two big things of fentanyl which could tranquilise an elephant. Normally I would say it's not working but it really wasn't. Then they hit me with morphine.
"He puts the ECG on me and says ‘oh hell, put the sirens on and get there'.
"They're running through red lights and I turned to him and said ‘am I dying?'
"He said ‘no just breathe.'
"I was so out of it. I don't want a heart attack but god it would have been something to talk about.
"Apparently it's a nerve in the spine that goes around towards the sternum.
"Anyway…I'm here."
Johns has had a huge week with the frightening medical scenes adding to the build-up of the Knights making the Grand Final for the first time since 2001.
The club has had plenty of support leading into the NRL decider this weekend, with the entire Hunter region showing its love for the Knights to claim the title.
They will face the Sydney Roosters on Sunday night to decide the 2026 premiership winner.
