He says his week in London's St Thomas' Hospital left him driven by a desire to both stop others suffering and to get the UK "back on its feet".
Earlier, his fiancee, Carrie Symonds, revealed they had named their baby boy Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson.
The names are a tribute to their grandfathers and two doctors who treated Mr Johnson while he was in hospital with coronavirus, Ms Symonds wrote in an Instagram post.
The boy was born on Wednesday, just weeks after Mr Johnson's discharge from intensive care.
In his newspaper interview, the prime minister describes being wired up to monitors and finding the "indicators kept going in the wrong direction".
"It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he's quoted as saying, adding that he kept asking himself: "How am I going to get out of this?"
Mr Johnson had been diagnosed with coronavirus on March 26 and was admitted to hospital 10 days later. The following day, he was moved to intensive care.
"It was hard to believe that in just a few days my health had deteriorated to this extent," the prime minister tells the Sun on Sunday.
"The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong."
His recovery, he says, was down to "wonderful, wonderful nursing".
Mr Johnson says he felt "lucky", given so many others were still suffering, adding: "And so if you ask me, 'Am I driven by a desire to stop other people suffering?' Yes, I absolutely am.
"But I am also driven by an overwhelming desire to get our country as a whole back on its feet, healthy again, going forward in a way that we can and I'm very confident we'll get there."
Fewer patients hospitalised
The total number of reported coronavirus-related deaths in the UK now stands at 28,131 - an increase of 621 on Friday's figure.
However, England's deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said the number of people being treated in hospitals for the virus had fallen by 13% over the past week.
On Saturday, the government pledged £76m to support vulnerable children, victims of domestic violence and modern slavery, who were "trapped" at home during the lockdown.
The announcement followed reports of a "surge" in violence in the weeks since the lockdown was introduced.
Mr Johnson has been back in charge of the government since last Sunday. But he was in Downing Street a matter of days before Ms Symonds gave birth.
When posting their newborn's photograph on Instagram, she said his second middle name, Nicholas, was a tribute to "Dr Nick Price and Dr Nick Hart - the two doctors that saved Boris' life".
This offered "an insight into just how serious things were for the prime minister" after contracting the virus, said BBC political correspondent Jonathan Blake.
Dr Nick Price and Prof Nick Hart offered their "warm congratulations" to the PM and Ms Symonds.
They said in a statement: "We are honoured and humbled to have been recognised in this way, and we give our thanks to the incredible team of professionals who we work with at Guy's and St Thomas' and who ensure every patient receives the best care.
"We wish the new family every health and happiness."
Former Army head General Lord Richard Dannatt and ex-chief of the defence staff General Lord David Richards have called for front-line NHS workers to be given cash bonuses
Boris Johnson revealed that doctors prepared to announce his death as he battled Covid-19Credit: Crown Copyright
9
The Prime Minister told of his life-or-death struggle against coronavirus, during which he depended on 'litres and litres of oxygen' to surviveCredit: AFP
9
He also hailed the amazing doctors at St Thomas’ Hospital who saved his lifeCredit: Dan Jones - The Sun
He added: “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it. They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario.
"I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place.
“The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong.
“They gave me a face mask so I got litres and litres of oxygen and for a long time I had that and the little nose jobbie.”
The stark reality of his plight quickly struck home when he was wired up to monitors and moved into intensive care.
He told how “the bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction” and he realised there was no cure for Covid-19.
During his life-or-death struggle at St Thomas’ Hospital last month, Boris kept asking himself: “How am I going to get out of this?”
They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario. I was not in particularly brilliant shape.
Boris Johnson
He recalled: “It was hard to believe that in just a few days my health had deteriorated to this extent. I remember feeling frustrated. I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t getting better.
“But the bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe.
“That was when it got a bit . . . they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally."
Sitting in his office at 10 Downing Street, Mr Johnson welled up as he relived the extraordinary two weeks in which he nearly lost his own life but recovered in time to see the birth of another – his new son Wilfred.
He said: “It was thanks to some wonderful, wonderful nursing that I made it. They really did it and they made a huge difference.
“I can’t explain how it happened. I don’t know . . . it was just wonderful to see the . . . ”
His voice falters while his eyes redden and he pauses to take a deep breath.
He continues: “I get emotional about it . . . but it was an extraordinary thing.”
We are urging Sun readers to sign a petition calling for our NHS staff to be awarded the George Cross.
We are backing a proposal by Lord Ashcroft to honour our health heroes with the gallantry gong given for acts of bravery that did not take place in battle.
A No10 spokesman said: “The NHS is doing a fantastic job and the nation will want to find a way to say thank you when we have defeated this virus.” SAS hero Andy McNab added: “The award of a George Cross would show an emotional appreciation.”
We are asking our readers to please sign the petition below.
9
Boris spoke of his fear when 'the bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction' and he realised there was no cure for Covid-19Credit: Crown Copyright
9
Mr Johnson’s fiancee Carrie Symonds today released the first picture of their son Wilfred, who was born just 17 days after the PM was discharged
9
Carrie said her 'heart is full' after welcoming her baby boy into the worldCredit: AP:Associated Press
9
The Sun on Sunday's political editor David Wooding met with Boris Johnson at No10 Downing StreetCredit: Crown Copyright
Give now to The Sun's NHS appeal
BRITAIN’s four million NHS staff are on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus.
But while they are helping save lives, who is there to help them?
The Sun has launched an appeal to raise £1MILLION for NHS workers. The Who Cares Wins Appeal aims to get vital support to staff in their hour of need.
We have teamed up with NHS Charities Together in their urgent Covid-19 Appeal to ensure the money gets to exactly who needs it.
The Sun is donating £50,000 and we would like YOU to help us raise a million pounds, to help THEM. No matter how little you can spare, please donate today here: www.thesun.co.uk/whocareswinsappeal.
Mr Johnson, 55, admits he initially brushed off just how serious it was when he tested positive for coronavirus in late March.
He went into self-isolation in the flat above Downing Street — parted from Carrie — but continued to work flat out.
The PM recalled: “The thing was, I was in denial because I was working and I kept doing these meetings by video link.
“But I was really feeling pretty groggy, to be totally honest with you. I was feeling pretty wasted — not in an intoxicated way, but just, you know, pretty rough.”
He then stops suddenly and asks: “Have you had this thing? Well, don’t get it. You don’t want it. I wasn’t struggling to breathe but I just wasn’t in good shape and it wasn’t getting better.
"Then the doctors got anxious because they thought that my readings were not where they wanted them to be.
“Then I was told I had to go into St Thomas’. I said I really didn’t want to go into hospital.
“It didn’t seem to me to be a good move but they were pretty adamant. Looking back, they were right to force me to go.
COMING TO TERMS WITH DEATH
"I did have the most fantastic care. It was awe-inspiring to see how they look after people and I was very lucky.”
Mr Johnson made the short trip to the hospital across Westminster Bridge along with his two protection officers.
After a quick assessment, he was put on oxygen and fitted with a tube beneath his nose.
But it soon became clear he needed more and so he was given a large face mask. Events took a turn for the worse and got “a bit scary” when he was moved to intensive care the next day.
The PM explained: “There was one stage when they were giving me really quite a lot of oxygen.
“So they gave me a face mask and my intake became really quite substantial. I was going through litres and litres of oxygen for a long time.
“But things started to deteriorate on the Monday. I realised it was getting serious when they moved me into intensive care."
Carrie and Boris announced their pregnancy in February
9
Mr Johnson vows he is driven 'by an overwhelming desire to get our country as a whole back on its feet, healthy again'Credit: PA:Press Association
9
The PM has agreed to take his paternity leave at a later dateCredit: AFP
The Sun on Sunday says
BORIS JOHNSON’S brush with death could hardly have been closer.
In his interview today he reveals doctors were already planning a dreadful announcement if things went wrong.
At one point he was so ill he was nearly put on a ventilator with “a tube down my windpipe”.
“It was a tough old moment,” he admits. “I won’t deny it.”
With black humour, he says he was aware the doctors had a strategy for a “death of Stalin type scenario”.
But what also comes through this emotionally raw interview is Boris’s incredible fighting spirit.
His ordeal in intensive care at St Thomas’ hospital was undoubtedly one of the nation’s darkest hours during this dreadful crisis.
But his remarkable recovery in a few short weeks and the birth of his baby son Wilfred inspire new life and hope.
Who better to revive the country than someone who has himself bounced back from the brink?
Boris’s optimism will now be needed as never before, and his return to Downing Street has already filled the leadership vacuum.
He will need to deploy all his skills to get Britain off its knees and unveil crucial plans this week for us to ease the lockdown.
Yet with this PM’s powers of revival you feel anything is possible.
Mr Johnson admits he was coming to terms — probably for the first time — with his own mortality. He had been in hospital several times before, usually with rugby injuries, but nothing quite like this.
He said: “I’ve broken my nose, I’ve broken my finger, I’ve broken my wrist, I’ve broken my rib. I’ve broken just about everything. I’ve broken all sorts of things, several times in some cases.
“But I’ve never had anything as serious as this.
“Well, no. All I remember feeling was just frustration. I couldn’t see why I wasn’t getting better.
“I was just incredibly frustrated because the bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction and I thought, ‘There’s no medicine for this thing and there’s no cure’.
“That was the stage when I was thinking, ‘How am I going to get out of this?’”
Things started to deteriorate on the Monday. I realised it was getting serious when they moved me into intensive care.
Boris Johnson
Mr Johnson knew the possible consequences of being placed into an induced coma and connected to a ventilator.
However, he refused to accept he was finished — thanks to his “terrible buoyancy”.
He insisted: “It would be wrong to say that at any stage I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, this is it’.
“Some terrible buoyancy within me kept convincing me that everything would almost certainly be all right in the end.
"But I was just frustrated. I remember seeing a lot of other victims, both going in and going out of intensive care.
“After three nights, thanks to the miraculous work of the medical team, I was returned to the general ward without the need of ventilation.
"I felt so lucky because so many people have suffered so much more than I did.”
BEGINNING 'UNLOCKDOWN'
He went on: “I want to stress this. There are people that I know well, who I’m sure we both know well, who are still on ventilation, who are still in comas.
"There are so many who have suffered, so many families who are still facing huge anxiety.
“So many who have lost loved ones and so if you ask me, ‘Am I driven by a desire to stop other people suffering?’
“Yes, I absolutely am. But I am also driven by an overwhelming desire to get our country as a whole back on its feet, healthy again, going forward in a way that we can and I’m very confident we’ll get there.
Changed by his ordeal
By David Wooding
OVER the years, I’ve met or interviewed Boris Johnson many times — but this meeting was like no other.
Not only were we forced to sit far apart for social distancing, but it’s clear his brush with death has left him a changed man.
His trademark bounce and optimism are still much in evidence. But he has emerged from the life-changing events of the past few weeks as a much more complex figure.
Boris 2.0 is a man who no longer feels the need to play to the crowd. In just a few short weeks, he has had more thrown at him than most politicians experience in a lifetime. His face betrays a mixture of terror, exhaustion and joy. But most of all relief.
Within a month he has come close to death and recovered quickly enough to witness the birth of his son.
It remains to be seen whether contemplating his own mortality will be a galvanising moment that makes him a great Prime Minister.
But it was clear from the look in his eyes that the events of the past month have already had a marked effect.
‘STILL HAUNTED’
Maddie parents’ agony as they mark 13 years since disappearance in lockdown
VIRUS CRISIS
UK death toll hits 28,131 after 621 more die
Latest
SON & HAIR
Boris and Carrie share first pic of baby Wilfred named after docs who saved PM
FREEDOM
Brits ‘to be allowed to sunbathe in park and drive to country’ when lockdown eases
Exclusive
KILLER'S RELEASE BID
Rhys Jones murderer in court bid to get his life sentence cut in HALF
He says his week in London's St Thomas' Hospital left him driven by a desire to both stop others suffering and to get the UK "back on its feet".
Earlier, his fiancee, Carrie Symonds, revealed they had named their baby boy Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson.
The names are a tribute to their grandfathers and two doctors who treated Mr Johnson while he was in hospital with coronavirus, Ms Symonds wrote in an Instagram post.
The boy was born on Wednesday, just weeks after Mr Johnson's discharge from intensive care.
In his newspaper interview, the prime minister describes being wired up to monitors and finding the "indicators kept going in the wrong direction".
"It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he's quoted as saying, adding that he kept asking himself: "How am I going to get out of this?"
Mr Johnson had been diagnosed with coronavirus on March 26 and was admitted to hospital 10 days later. The following day, he was moved to intensive care.
"It was hard to believe that in just a few days my health had deteriorated to this extent," the prime minister tells the Sun on Sunday.
"The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong."
His recovery, he says, was down to "wonderful, wonderful nursing".
Mr Johnson says he felt "lucky", given so many others were still suffering, adding: "And so if you ask me, 'Am I driven by a desire to stop other people suffering?' Yes, I absolutely am.
"But I am also driven by an overwhelming desire to get our country as a whole back on its feet, healthy again, going forward in a way that we can and I'm very confident we'll get there."
Fewer patients hospitalised
The total number of reported coronavirus-related deaths in the UK now stands at 28,131 - an increase of 621 on Friday's figure.
However, England's deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said the number of people being treated in hospitals for the virus had fallen by 13% over the past week.
On Saturday, the government pledged £76m to support vulnerable children, victims of domestic violence and modern slavery, who were "trapped" at home during the lockdown.
The announcement followed reports of a "surge" in violence in the weeks since the lockdown was introduced.
Mr Johnson has been back in charge of the government since last Sunday. But he was in Downing Street a matter of days before Ms Symonds gave birth.
When posting their newborn's photograph on Instagram, she said his second middle name, Nicholas, was a tribute to "Dr Nick Price and Dr Nick Hart - the two doctors that saved Boris' life".
This offered "an insight into just how serious things were for the prime minister" after contracting the virus, said BBC political correspondent Jonathan Blake.
Dr Nick Price and Prof Nick Hart offered their "warm congratulations" to the PM and Ms Symonds.
They said in a statement: "We are honoured and humbled to have been recognised in this way, and we give our thanks to the incredible team of professionals who we work with at Guy's and St Thomas' and who ensure every patient receives the best care.
"We wish the new family every health and happiness."
A boy of 11 is feared to have suffered ‘life-changing injuries’ after being shot at home by burglars posing as deliverymen.
The gang forced their entry into his family’s semi-detached house after the boy’s father – businessman Ray Hawkins, 45 – had opened the door believing it was a parcel delivery at 9.30pm on Friday.
Mr Hawkins, who suffered a cut to his head, and his son were taken to hospital after the raid in Upminster, East London.
A gang forced their way into 45-year-old Ray Hawkins's home after posing as deliverymen on Friday at 9.30pm. Mr Hawkins and his son were rushed to hospital after the raid
The Metropolitan Police said the 11-year-old boy may have 'life-changing injuries' but that neither him or his father had life-threatening injuries. No arrests have been made
The Metropolitan Police said neither had life-threatening injuries but the boy’s ‘may be life-changing’.
A spokesman added that there had ‘been no arrests at this stage’.
Mr Hawkins’s wife Laura was unhurt.
A neighbour said Mr Hawkins runs a designer flooring company, adding: ‘He’s just your average bloke – always a nice geezer.’
He says his week in London's St Thomas' Hospital left him driven by a desire to both stop others suffering and to get the UK "back on its feet".
Earlier, his fiancee, Carrie Symonds, revealed they had named their baby boy Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson.
The names are a tribute to their grandfathers and two doctors who treated Mr Johnson while he was in hospital with coronavirus, Ms Symonds wrote in an Instagram post.
The boy was born on Wednesday, just weeks after Mr Johnson's discharge from intensive care.
In his newspaper interview, the prime minister describes being wired up to monitors and finding the "indicators kept going in the wrong direction".
"It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he's quoted as saying, adding that he kept asking himself: "How am I going to get out of this?"
Mr Johnson had been diagnosed with coronavirus on March 26 and was admitted to hospital 10 days later. The following day, he was moved to intensive care.
"It was hard to believe that in just a few days my health had deteriorated to this extent," the prime minister tells the Sun on Sunday.
"The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong."
His recovery, he says, was down to "wonderful, wonderful nursing".
Mr Johnson says he felt "lucky", given so many others were still suffering, adding: "And so if you ask me, 'Am I driven by a desire to stop other people suffering?' Yes, I absolutely am.
"But I am also driven by an overwhelming desire to get our country as a whole back on its feet, healthy again, going forward in a way that we can and I'm very confident we'll get there."
Fewer patients hospitalised
The total number of reported coronavirus-related deaths in the UK now stands at 28,131 - an increase of 621 on Friday's figure.
However, England's deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said the number of people being treated in hospitals for the virus had fallen by 13% over the past week.
On Saturday, the government pledged £76m to support vulnerable children, victims of domestic violence and modern slavery, who were "trapped" at home during the lockdown.
The announcement followed reports of a "surge" in violence in the weeks since the lockdown was introduced.
Mr Johnson has been back in charge of the government since last Sunday. But he was in Downing Street a matter of days before Ms Symonds gave birth.
When posting their newborn's photograph on Instagram, she said his second middle name, Nicholas, was a tribute to "Dr Nick Price and Dr Nick Hart - the two doctors that saved Boris' life".
This offered "an insight into just how serious things were for the prime minister" after contracting the virus, said BBC political correspondent Jonathan Blake.
Dr Nick Price and Prof Nick Hart offered their "warm congratulations" to the PM and Ms Symonds.
They said in a statement: "We are honoured and humbled to have been recognised in this way, and we give our thanks to the incredible team of professionals who we work with at Guy's and St Thomas' and who ensure every patient receives the best care.
"We wish the new family every health and happiness."
He says during a week in London's St Thomas' Hospital, with three nights in intensive care, he kept asking himself: "How am I going to get out of this?"
Earlier, his fiancee, Carrie Symonds, revealed they had named their baby boy Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson.
The names are a tribute to their grandfathers and two doctors who treated Mr Johnson while he was in hospital with coronavirus, Ms Symonds wrote in an Instagram post.
The birth came just weeks after Mr Johnson's discharge from intensive care.
In his newspaper interview, the prime minister describes being wired up to monitors and finding the "indicators kept going in the wrong direction".
"It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he's quoted as saying. "The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong."
Mr Johnson had been diagnosed with coronavirus on March 26 and was admitted to hospital 10 days later. The following day, he was moved to intensive care.
"It was hard to believe that in just a few days my health had deteriorated to this extent," the prime minister tells the Sun on Sunday.
His recovery, he says, was down to "wonderful, wonderful nursing".
Fewer patients hospitalised
The total number of reported coronavirus-related deaths in the UK now stands at 28,131 - an increase of 621 on Friday's figure.
However, England's deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said the number of people being treated in hospitals for the virus had fallen by 13% over the past week.
On Saturday, the government pledged £76m to support vulnerable children, victims of domestic violence and modern slavery, who were "trapped" at home during the lockdown.
The announcement followed reports of a "surge" in violence in the weeks since the lockdown was introduced.
Mr Johnson has been back in charge of the government since last Sunday. But he was in Downing Street a matter of days before Ms Symonds gave birth.
When posting their newborn's photograph, she said his second middle name, Nicholas, was a tribute to "Dr Nick Price and Dr Nick Hart - the two doctors that saved Boris' life".
This offered "an insight into just how serious things were for the prime minister" after contracting the virus, said BBC political correspondent Jonathan Blake.
Dr Nick Price and Prof Nick Hart offered their "warm congratulations" to the PM and Ms Symonds.
They said in a statement: "We are honoured and humbled to have been recognised in this way, and we give our thanks to the incredible team of professionals who we work with at Guy's and St Thomas' and who ensure every patient receives the best care.
"We wish the new family every health and happiness."
He says during a week in London's St Thomas' Hospital, with three nights in intensive care, he kept asking himself: "How am I going to get out of this?"
Earlier, his fiancee, Carrie Symonds, revealed they had named their baby boy Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson.
The names are a tribute to their grandfathers and two doctors who treated Mr Johnson while he was in hospital with coronavirus, Ms Symonds wrote in an Instagram post.
The birth came just weeks after Mr Johnson's discharge from intensive care.
In his newspaper interview, the prime minister describes being wired up to monitors and finding the "indicators kept going in the wrong direction".
"It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he's quoted as saying. "The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong."
Mr Johnson had been diagnosed with coronavirus on March 26 and was admitted to hospital 10 days later. The following day, he was moved to intensive care.
"It was hard to believe that in just a few days my health had deteriorated to this extent," the prime minister tells the Sun on Sunday.
His recovery, he says, was down to "wonderful, wonderful nursing".
Fewer patients hospitalised
The total number of reported coronavirus-related deaths in the UK now stands at 28,131 - an increase of 621 on Friday's figure.
However, England's deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said the number of people being treated in hospitals for the virus had fallen by 13% over the past week.
On Saturday, the government pledged £76m to support vulnerable children, victims of domestic violence and modern slavery, who were "trapped" at home during the lockdown.
The announcement followed reports of a "surge" in violence in the weeks since the lockdown was introduced.
Mr Johnson has been back in charge of the government since last Sunday. But he was in Downing Street a matter of days before Ms Symonds gave birth.
When posting their newborn's photograph, she said his second middle name, Nicholas, was a tribute to "Dr Nick Price and Dr Nick Hart - the two doctors that saved Boris' life".
This offered "an insight into just how serious things were for the prime minister" after contracting the virus, said BBC political correspondent Jonathan Blake.
Dr Nick Price and Prof Nick Hart offered their "warm congratulations" to the PM and Ms Symonds.
They said in a statement: "We are honoured and humbled to have been recognised in this way, and we give our thanks to the incredible team of professionals who we work with at Guy's and St Thomas' and who ensure every patient receives the best care.
"We wish the new family every health and happiness."
