The comedian has revealed he thought he was going to die.

Dave ‘Hughesy’ Hughes in hospital / Dave ‘Hughesy’ Hughes playing the AFL Legends Match.

Dave ‘Hughesy’ Hughes was taken to hospital with five broken ribs and a punctured lung. Photos: Supplied/The Fox / Getty

Comedian Dave ‘Hughesy’ Hughes was rushed to hospital on Friday morning after taking part in an AFL Legends Match for Prostate Cancer at Marvel Stadium the previous night. The I’m A Celebrity star, 54, suffered five broken ribs and a punctured lung and is currently in the ICU.

During the charity game, which saw former AFL legends, premiership captains, and a handful of celebrities filling the Victorian and All Stars teams, Hughesy suffered a brutal hit from former West Coast Eagle Andrew Embley. He went on to play the remainder of the match, even kicking a goal and attending the after-party until 2am, but was taken to hospital in the early hours of Friday morning.

The father-of-three shared details about the incident on The Fox’s Fifi, Fev & Nick, including when he was “smashed” by Mitch ‘Robbo’ Robinson, and admitted that he thought he was going to die.

“I’m lying in a hospital bed and it’s hard to breathe,” he detailed. “I was groaning in the morning, and my wife said, ‘We’ve got to go to the hospital’, and I said, ‘I can’t get out of bed!’. We drove to the hospital. There’s not a lot of breath in me, guys, so I can’t talk too much.”

Dave ‘Hughesy’ Hughes playing the AFL Legends Match.

Hughesy took part in the AFL Legends Match for Prostate Cancer at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night. Photo: Getty

‘It was hectic’

Hughesy also appeared on The Kyle & Jackie O Show to speak about the incident, claiming that the other team had intentionally targeted him.

“So, I was the oldest player out there, but they had my name on a whiteboard. ‘Target Dave Hughes’,” he shared. “You tell footballers what to do and they just do it because they’re robots. So it was hectic.

“Look, there could be a miniseries in it, guys. I think so,” he joked.

He went on to share that he’s on painkillers and already feeling better, adding: “So, here I am, all good, bit of fun.”

Hughesy’s followers send their well-wishes

Hughesy has since shared a video of himself on Instagram from his hospital bed detailing his injuries and received plenty of supportive messages from his followers.

“Well played game Hughesy, it was highly entertaining,” one person wrote, while another added, “Rest up, great man! Surely someone’s dropped off the most courageous award after last night’s heroics”.

“You really took a hit for the team there Hughesy! But, seriously, get well soon!” a third replied, followed by someone else who said, “I think your playing days are over. Wishing you a speedy recovery!”

More than 30,000 people attended the AFL Legends Match in Melbourne, which raised almost $1 million to support the Australian Prostate Centre.