'Scared the sh-t out of me': AFL great sent to hospital after lightning strike hit worksite

AFL great Doug Hawkins has spoken of the terror he felt when lightning struck the booth he was sheltering in on his worksite in Melbourne.

The former Western Bulldogs champion told 9News the thunder he heard from the Yarraville worksite during the thunderstorm about 8.30am yesterday was the loudest he has heard in his 62 years.

"I packed myself. It scared the sh-t out me", he said.

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Hawkins said the small hut he sheltered in during the storm shook for up to 10 seconds after one loud bang.

Lightning had struck the hut.

"I was going to get to my car but it was about eight metres away," he said.

"But I was too scared to go.

"The big tough footy player, Dougie was actually too scared to come out."

After the storm passed, another employee told him he looked pale and that his eyes were crossed.

He felt light-headed and generally unwell so he went to see a doctor, who told him to go to the hospital to have his heart checked.

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Hawkins was cleared.

"I'm lucky," he said.

"It could have been worse."

The severe storm left more than 50,000 homes and businesses without power across Victoria and damaged some homes.

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