A dad-of-three who survived coronavirus was given 15 minutes to make final phone calls to loved ones in case he didn't pull through.
Darren Buttrick, from Coven in Staffordshire, said he struggled to even dial the numbers of his wife, family and friends.
The 48-year-old had to tell wife Angela, his parents, his siblings and friends that it could be their last conversation in a 'distressing' and emotionally charged 'awful' exchange.
Darren, who had no underlying health conditions, said as he cried he begged nurses not to let him die.
Thankfully the much-loved father, who fell ill on March 11, has recovered but he said hearing Boris Johnson's account of overcoming Covid-19 brought everything back to him.
He told Sky News : "I was struggling to even dial the numbers on my phone, going to the memory bank, picking out people's numbers, ring family, ring friends - it was just awful having to explain.
"I'd cried and I'd begged the doctors and the nurses prior not to let me die. I pleaded, I begged.
"And then having to say to Angela, my parents, my brothers, my sister, family, friends, that this could be my last conversation, I love them, it was very emotional, very distressing and I just sat there crying."
Darren's wife spoke of her shock when she learned he was being taken into intensive care.
She said she collapsed on the floor and felt unable to function.
At Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital, Darren was put into a coma before being placed on a ventilator.
His temperature was above 40C and said he felt like he was being strangled when he breathed.
But he described the medics who looked after him as "angels".
Darren spoke about the kindness nurses showed him while he was in hospital.
He said one nurse looked him in the eye, stroked his arm and told him they would save him.
Darren has made a full recovery but cannot forget his experience.
He said images of others hooked up to machines in intensive care will stay with him forever.
