Essendon defender Courtenay Dempsey says he felt like he was drowning after he clashed with Sydney defender Nick Smith causing him to cough up blood in the middle of the SCG.

Demspey’s courageous act has been praised by his teammates with the defender cleared of serious internal damage leaving him a chance to line against Carlton on Friday night.

“I dropped to my knees, started spewing up blood and tried to take in some air,” Dempsey told The Hangar.

“It felt like I was drowning because all the blood in my oesophagus area.

“Trying to breath in with all the blood there was a scary moment and I actually thought at that stage that I was going to die because it felt like I was drowning.”

Dempsey said the impact of the hit did not hurt but it was when he tried to breath the realisation of the pain came across him.

“The initial hit didn’t hurt as much so I got up and went to chase the footy but at the time I tried to take a deep breath and I couldn’t,” he said.

“I couldn’t get any air in so I tried to cough and when I coughed a whole lot of blood come out of my mouth.”

The dashing half back flanker said he would have few doubts about flying back with the flight of the ball if in a similar position again.

“I had to go, I heard Licka saying go for the mark and I went for it. I knew something was gong to happen but I didn’t think it would be that bad.”

“I would do it again no worries.”