Johnson: It could have gone either way

A POORLY-LOOKING Boris Johnson yesterday addressed the nation for the first time since being discharged from hospital following his battle against coronavirus – and revealed his struggle in intensive care “could have gone either way” as he thanked healthcare workers for saving his life.

Paying tribute to the “brilliant” NHS and to staff who sat by his bedside, the Prime Minister said in a video message from Chequers that Britain was in “a fight we never picked against an enemy we still don’t entirely understand”.

But he added that the UK “will win... because our NHS is the beating heart of this country”. His fiancée Carrie Symonds also thanked medical staff and said: “Today I’m feeling incredibly lucky.”

THE Prime Minister has paid tribute to the “brilliant” NHS staff who saved his life while in the grip of coronavirus.

Boris Johnson posted a video yesterday afternoon, just hours after being discharged from St Thomas’ Hospital in London, thanking the medical team who helped him.

A dishevelled Mr Johnson spoke from Chequers, where he is now recovering, after first showing symptoms of the virus on March

26.

A week ago he was taken to hospital, and days later he was in intensive care.

In his video address, the Prime Minister paid tribute to NHS staff who stayed by his bedside “when things could have gone either way” .

He said: “It’s hard to find the words to express my debt – but before I come to that I want to thank everyone in the UK for the effort and the sacrifice you are making.

“I thank you because so many millions of people across this country have been doing the right thing – millions going through the hardship of self-isolation – faithfully, patiently, with thought and care for others as well as for themselves.”

He added that the country was in “a fight we never picked against an enemy we still don’t entirely understand”.

He continued: “I want to pay my own thanks to the utterly brilliant doctors, leaders in their fields who took some crucial decisions a few days ago for which I will be grateful for the rest of my life.

“I am going to forget some names, so forgive me, but I want to thank Po Ling and Shannon and Emily and Angel and Connie and Becky and Rachael and Nicky and Ann.

“And I hope they won’t mind if I mention in particular two nurses who stood by my bedside for 48 hours when things could have gone either way.

“They are Jenny from New Zealand, and Luis from Portugal – near Porto.”

Mr Johnson’s fiancée Carrie Symonds also thanked the NHS, and said: “There were times last week that were very dark indeed. My heart goes out to all those in similar situations, worried sick about their loved ones.

“Today I’m feeling incredibly lucky.”