Australia's five-tive Olympic gold medalist swimmer Ian Thorpe found in a 'daze' by police and taken to hospital

Sydney: A "dazed" Ian Thorpe was discovered by police in a Sydney street in the early hours today and taken to hospital, according to reports about the troubled swim star.

Thorpe, 31, was taken to hospital for the second time in as many weeks after being spotted in a suburban street in southern Sydney at about 3am, according to Ten News.

A 14-year-old boy raised the alarm after hearing a noise outside his family home and seeing Thorpe attempting to gain entry to a van in the driveway, Ten said.

He was reportedly "dazed" and under the influence of something, the network reported.

Police did not name Thorpe but confirmed to AFP that they responded to a 3am call-out in Panania "after concerns were raised for a man seen near a vehicle".

"He was taken to hospital for medical assessment," a spokeswoman said.

"No official complaint has been made and no further police action is anticipated."

Thorpe's management did not immediately respond to requests for comment but Ten later said they had confirmed that he had been admitted to a private rehab clinic for depression treatment.

Ten said his management told them Thorpe's "disorientated" state was due to a mixture of painkillers and anti-depressants.

It follows media reports last week -- refuted by his handlers at the time -- that Thorpe had gone into rehab for depression and alcohol abuse.