A MELBOURNE football player who caught a rare and deadly superbug is one of only a handful of people in the world to have survived the flesh-eating disease.

Port Melbourne fan favourite Sam O’Sullivan is recovering in hospital after his life-threatening battle with Necrotizing myositis, a serious bacterial skin infection that typically has a low survival rate.

Mr O’Sullivan is understood to be one of only 21 people in the world to have contracted the infection and only one of seven to have survived it. He is possibly the only person known to have survived the disease without losing a limb.

The 24-year-old VFL football player said it was “unlikely” he would be able to play footy at an elite level again but he considered himself lucky to be alive.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Infection, Necrotizing myositis spreads quickly.

The infection can become life-threatening in a very short amount of time and is caused by several types of bacteria.

Mr O’Sullivan this morning told 3AW radio he didn’t know how he contracted the disease.

“It could have been from anything,” he said.

He said his battle with the superbug started in September when he developed “flu-like symptoms throughout the week”.

“Then on Sunday night I had really bad shin pains to the point I had to go to hospital,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

“I was hospitalised and they couldn’t find out what was going on for another couple of days.”

As the days passed, Mr O’Sullivan’s condition deteriorated.

“My leg blew up and my foot stopped working and I lost sensation,” he said. “I went in for surgery for something called ‘compartment syndrome’ and then they opened my leg up and got the shock of their life.

“My whole leg had puss all over it, (from) infection. Then my whole body turned septic and I went into an induced coma.”

Mr O’Sullivan was diagnosed with Necratising myositis and placed in intensive care. He underwent multiple operations.

“The plastic surgeons were unbelievable because when they opened me up they didn’t know what was going on but knew they had to act quickly,” he said. “It was a super aggressive bug.

“The bug ate the top of my shins and most of the muscle as well. My right leg has been completely reconstructed.

“The ability to flex my foot up — I don’t have at the moment, so I’m hoping to have another operation in a couple of months once it’s all healed.

“My left leg got infected and also my left bicep.”

Doctors told his family to fear the worst.

“At one stage (surgeons) went in and told my family it wasn’t looking so good,” he said. “(But) I turned it around.”

Mr O’Sullivan said it was “unlikely” he would be able to play footy at an elite level again but that he considered himself lucky to be alive.

“I’m one of seven who didn’t die,” he said. “And possibly the only one to have retained a limb ... I’m thinking of buying a Lotto ticket.”

Mr O’Sullivan said his nickname, S0S, was derived from his initials. But the acronym now has another meaning: ‘Survivor of Superbug’.

A statement released by Port Melbourne Football Club said their star player had overcome the odds but still required significant rehabilitation.

“If ever there was a reflection of ‘SOS’ fighting qualities, this is it,” the statement read.

“Although continuing to face physical and mental battles on a daily basis, Sam remains in everyone’s thoughts and prayers.

“We can’t wait to see him back at our club in the near future.”