Boris Johnson says he 'owes his life to NHS staff' after leaving intensive care unit
Boris Johnson had paid tribute to the NHS staff who treated him during his stay in hospital
3 min read
Boris Johnson has said he "owes his life to NHS staff" after leaving the intensive care unit where he was being treated for coronavirus.
The Prime Minister thanked doctors for the "exemplary care" he recieved during his three-night stint in the intensive care unit at St Thomas' hospital.
Mr Johnson was moved to the ward on Monday evening where he recieved oxygen treatment after his symptoms worsened.
According to The Sunday Telegraph, friends of the Prime Minister said he had come close to death while battling the illness, with the situation so grave that Cabinet ministers and aides prayed for his recovery.
Mr Johnson left intensive care on Thursday evening, but remains in the hospital where No 10 said he was continuing to make "very good" progress.
According to the paper, Mr Johnson's fiance Carrie Symonds wrote daily letters to him during his stay in the unit, including sending scans of their unborn child and pictures of NHS staff wishing him well in a bid to boost his recovery.
Mr Johnson, who is now well enough to sit up in bed and read, has reportedly been rereading Tintin comics from his childhood and watching movies uploaded by his Downing Street aides.
But the Mail on Sunday reports that Mr Johnson had been expected at the hospital for three days before he was eventually admitted last Sunday.
The paper says doctors had been "scrubbed up" at a secret hospital entrance for the Prime Minister, but only realised he was not going to arrive after they saw footage of him taking part in the weekly Clap for Carers event outside 11 Downing Street.
A government source told the paper Mr Johnson had been "resistant" to going to hospital over fears he would be viewed as recieving preferential treatment for the illness.
But one hospital source said by the time he arrived he was already "very, very unwell" and was given oxygen within 10 minutes of his arrival.
Speaking after leaving the unit, Mr Johnson reportedly said he "can't thank [the NHS] enough" for the treatment he recieved.
It is now expected that when the Prime Minister is well enough to leave hospital he will decamp to Chequers, his official countryside residence, where he will again take charge of the Government's response to the virus.
It comes as the UK's death toll approaches 10,000, with more than 1,800 people dying of the illness in the last two days.
Ministers are expected to review the UK's lockdown measures next week, but are likely to recommend a continuation of strict social distancing measures in an effort to reduce the strain on NHS resources.
Meanwhile, news of the Prime Minsiter's recovery prompted an outpouring of support from around the world, with US President Donald Trump tweeting: "Great News: Prime Minister Boris Johnson has just been moved out of Intensive Care. Get well Boris!!!"
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer added: "This is good news. I hope it is the beginnings of a speedy recovery."
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