Entertainment

Richard Bacon thanks wife after ‘nearly dying’ from infection

The TV presenter shared touching messages on his social media accounts.
The TV presenter shared touching messages on his social media accounts. The TV presenter shared touching messages on his social media accounts.

Richard Bacon has paid tribute to his wife Rebecca as he shared an update on his improving health and his expected release from hospital.

The ex-Blue Peter host, who was put in a medically induced coma earlier this month after falling ill, posted photographs on social media of their hands intertwined from his hospital bed.

He said: “Last full day in hospital. Every facet of my life would be worse without Rebecca in it. How will I ever thank her?

“I was in a coma for nine or ten nights (I just learned). That’s a lot of staring at your husband and his pipes. And a lot of worry.”

The 42-year-old fell ill while travelling to Britain from the US and was taken off a plane in a wheelchair before being admitted to a London hospital.

On Monday he posted on social media saying he had “nearly died”.

Sony Radio Academy Awards – London
Sony Radio Academy Awards – London Richard Bacon praised the hospital where he was treated (Yui Mok/PA)

In tweets which were later deleted he said: “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 (an intensive care unit) at midnight, with a massive needle jammed in my chest – bit like Pulp Fiction – I thought, ‘This is it.”

He was full of praise for the NHS and Lewisham Hospital, where he has been treated.

He tweeted: “Low on energy but I love and admire all the team LEWISHAM HOSPITAL. VivaTheNHS.”