Hawthorn head coach Sam Mitchell has revealed the details of his nightmare New York holiday that was capped by the four-time premiership winner spending Christmas day in hospital.
Upon returning to Waverley to commence his third season at the Hawks' helm, Mitchell had been forced to lead on a part-time basis as per doctor's orders, however, the Brownlow medallist is now back at the club full-time.
After falling ill on a family holiday to the Big Apple, the 41-year-old spent a week in hospital after collapsing and being diagnosed with pneumonia.
Speaking to News Corp about the frightening ordeal, Mitchell stated that what he first thought was a cold quickly developed into something far worse.
“I was no good,” Mitchell told The Herald Sun's Glenn McFarlane.
“I was sitting with Lyndall (wife) and the three kids (at breakfast) and I said to Lyndall ‘I am not going to make it today, I am going to go back up to the room'.
“She was like ‘What do you mean you are not coming with us today? In my head, I had been fighting it and fighting it.
“At that point, I got up as if I was going to go back to the room and I got three or four metres and I just woke up on the ground.”
In life, as in football, Mitchell was forced to lean on those around him, with his former head coach and current West Coast boss Adam Simpson stepping in to play babysitter as Mitchell was admitted to New York University hospital.
“The next morning I couldn't get up … I couldn't wake up,” Mitchell said. “She (Lyndall) calls an ambulance, they come and take me back and we go through the same process again,” Mitchell said.
“If I had been there by myself, could I have got to the phone and rang reception or 911 to get help? Probably … but not definitely.”
Mitchell will lead his rising Hawks into battle against the Western Bulldogs twice throughout the pre-season, starting on Friday, February 23 at the Whitten Oval and then again on Saturday, March 2 at the University of Tasmania Oval.
Hawthorn's season proper will commence when it faces old enemies Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, March 16.