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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Jamie Hawkins

Boris Johnson 'says he owes his life' to NHS doctors after 'coming close to death'

Boris Johnson came close to death as he fought against coronavirus, according to reports.

The Prime Minister said he "owes his life" to the doctors and nurses who cared for him during his coronavirus treatment.

Mr Johnson, who is spending his seventh night at St Thomas' Hospital in London, told friends: "I cannot thank them (medics) enough".

He praised the "exemplary" care he is receiving, saying: "I owe them my life."

According to The Mail on Sunday, Mr Johnson's friends revealed that the PM came close to losing his fight against the disease.

Cabinet ministers and his aides were reportedly praying for Mr Johnson, who breathed a huge sigh of relief when he was moved out of intensive care.

Earlier today, a spokesperson for the PM said he continues to make "very good progress” as he continues his recovery.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Getty)

Mr Johnson moved out of intensive care on Thursday night having shaken off the worst of the Covid-19 symptoms.

A Number 10 spokeswoman said: "The Prime Minister continues to make very good progress."

It emerged yesterday that Boris was able to take 'short walks'.

No10 and St Thomas' Hospital said he was now able to leave his hospital bed for the first time since being taken into intensive care on Monday.

He reportedly called heavily pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds as soon as doctors handed him back his phones at the end of his intensive care stay.

The 32-year-old is expecting a child in a matter of weeks with Mr Johnson, who has been separated from her since March 27 when he went into isolation.

The Prime Minister left intensive care on Thursday (10 Downing Street/AFP via Getty)

She reportedly sent Mr Johnson a love letter to boost his spirits, as well as a scan of their unborn child.

The Conservative leader was taken to hospital on Sunday - 10 days after testing positive - and was moved to intensive care on Monday.

Mr Johnson received "standard oxygen treatment" and was not put on a ventilator, Downing Street said earlier.

Shortly after news broke that Mr Johnson had left intensive care, people across Britain came together for a third time to clap the NHS.

From hospital Mr Johnson's official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister thanks the NHS for the brilliant care which it is ­providing. 

“The claps for carers have provided wonderful, unifying moments for the entire country.

“I’m sure that tonight we will once again see people in their millions paying tribute to our fantastic dedicated care workers.”

The UK's death toll continues to rise (Getty Images)

Mr Johnson's father Stanley Johnson has said he will need a period of rest after he was moved from the intensive care unit at St Thomas' Hospital.

The news comes as the coronavirus death toll in the UK rises by 917 to 9,875 in 24 hours.

The youngest victim was an 11-year-old child, Public Health England said.

There were 823 deaths in England and 47 in Scotland.

NHS England said the patients who died were aged between 11 and 102 years old.

They said 33 of the 823 patients, aged between 29 and 94 years old, had no known underlying health condition.

The tragic figure rose from yesterday's UK-wide figure of 8,958.

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