'˜I nearly died. I thought this is it' - Mansfield star Richard Bacon awake from coma

The broadcasting star was placed in the medically induced coma almost a fortnight ago, following diagnosis of an “as-yet unidentified” double chest infection that left him in a wheelchair and with “pins in my chest”.

He tweeted: “So I did six days straight in a coma. Been here another four since. It’s an as yet unidentified double chest infection. I nearly died.

“At one point, as I was 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’. ‘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’? 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.”

This news follows an interview with Richard’s mum Christine on Friday, where she revealed that the former Blue Peter presenter had been taken off sedation from the coma.

Richard is now recovering in Lewisham hospital in London, surrounded by family and friends.