North Melbourne forward Paul Curtis has revealed his battle with pneumonia and empyema during a recent off-season trip overseas, with the young Roo overcoming the "life-threatening illness".

Curtis spent time in London before flying to Bali over the break, with the earlier leg of his holiday interrupted by a bout of pneumonia.

The 22-year-old waited in the hospital for eight hours before receiving medication and given the all clear to leave, with a flight to Bali booked.

"They pretty much said I needed to be hospitalised right now," Curtis told 7 News.
"I waited eight hours to get seen. I went up to the front desk and I said ‘guys, I can't breathe'.

"I finally got seen and they just gave me some stronger meds. I was in there for 10 minutes and they said ‘you're all good'."

During his time in Bali, Curtis' symptoms worsened, with the Victorian diagnosed with an empyema and requiring a medivac plane to Perth.

Curtis was in hospital for eight days after having a litre of pus removed from his lung.

"I just swelled up, my face just puffed up, I had a rash all over my body," he revealed.

"My feet swelled up so I couldn't walk... I couldn't walk more than 50 metres without getting tired and having to have a rest."  
Dr Clay Golledge, an infectious disease physician, said Curtis "could've died" from the illness.

"A very serious, life-threatening illness," Golledge said. 

"He could've died from this." 

Curtis remains in contention to play Round 1 of the 2026 season, with the Roos' campaign to open on March 15 against Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium.

Entering his fifth season in the blue and white, Curtis is coming off a career-best year for North Melbourne, having kicked 38 goals in 19 games in 2025. 

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