Former Blue Peter presenter Richard Bacon has broken his silence after waking up from a medically-induced coma.
Richard, 42, fell ill on a flight from the USA to the UK earlier this month and had been in an induced coma since July 5.
On July 13 Richard was taken out of the coma and has been recovering in a London hospital.
Read more: Richard Bacon ‘out of induced coma’, confirms his mum
Still remaining in hospital, Richard took to social media on July 16 to address his illness and reveal he nearly died.
He tweeted on Monday: “So I did 6 days straight in a coma. Been here another 4 since.
“It’s an yet unidentified double chest infection. I nearly died.”
He added: “At one point, as I was as run down a hallway to ICU at midnight, with a massive needle jammed in my chest (bit like Pulp Fiction) I thought, this is it. (sic).”
He went on to say he was worried that if he did die, how that would affect his children’s lives.
Richard continued: “How’s is this going to affect my kids’ lives? Who’s going to sit my poor dad down and say ‘I’m sorry, we did everything we could’.”
Thanking the NHS, he said: “But then I didn’t die. And I didn’t die because I’m on the NHS. VivaTheNHS. See you for your 100th.
“By which time I probably will have pneumonia.”
Despite his terrifying ordeal, Richard still managed to crack a few jokes with his followers.
Comedian David Baddiel tweeted Richard: “Very much hope this is actually you tweeting this. In which case: welcome back.”
Richard joked: “Ha. I am alive. Or in Lewisham. Or somewhere between the two.”
Former footballer Gary Lineker also tweeted the radio presenter, saying: “Have you overslept?”
Richard replied: “Yes. For 6 days straight.”
Fans were pleased to see Richard in good spirits.
One person said: “Delighted you’re getting better,” while another wrote: “So glad you’re OK Richard. Love live the NHS!”
On July 5, Richard revealed he had been taken into hospital after falling ill on a flight.
He first shared a photo of the A&E department at a hospital in London.
He captioned the post: “I’m A&E (in Lewisham) on the NHS’s 70th birthday. I don’t like to miss a party.”
I’m A&E (in Lewisham) on the NHS’s 70th birthday. I don’t like to miss a party pic.twitter.com/AzuAouTJhX
— richard bacon (@richardpbacon) 5 July 2018
Shortly after, Richard shared a photo of himself with wires strapped across his chest as he lay in a hospital bed.
The radio presenter explained that he was travelling to the UK from America and was taken off the plane in a wheelchair after falling ill.
He captioned the post: “Thank God I got ill in Britain (actually on the way to Britain, was taken off the plane in a wheelchair).
“[Expletive] all the ideology driven politicians who’ve messed up America’s healthcare system. Viva the NHS. Happy 70th.”
Richard’s tweets then stopped, and on July 12, his sister Juliet revealed Richard had been in an induced coma since July 5.
A day later, Richard’s mum confirmed the star had been taken out of the coma.
She said Richard wasn’t fully awake yet but the family could already see he appeared to be “getting better”.
She added Richard had been receiving oxygen ventilation and antibiotics and his condition was starting to improve.
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