Covid 19 coronavirus: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he owes his life to doctors

Boris Johnson is reading Tintin books from his childhood while he recuperates in hospital. Photo / Getty Images

Boris Johnson has told friends that he owes his life to doctors and nurses at St Thomas' Hospital, where he was treated in intensive care for coronavirus.

The British Prime Minister said his care had been "exemplary", adding: "I can't thank them enough." Now well enough to sit up and read in bed, Johnson has been revisiting the Tintin books, which he first devoured as a child.

The Telegraph understands the books were sent to the Prime Minister's bedside by his family, as Carrie Symonds, his pregnant fianceé, wrote to him daily, when he was still too unwell to read texts and WhatsApp messages. She included the latest scan of the couple's unborn baby and printouts of pictures of NHS staff across the country wishing Johnson well.

On Saturday, No 10 said Johnson continued to make "very good progress" in hospital after leaving St Thomas' intensive care unit on Thursday.

The Prime Minister was admitted to hospital last Sunday but Downing Street insisted his admission was strictly "precautionary" so Johnson could undergo further tests after as his coronavirus symptoms persisted.

However, his condition deteriorated and on Monday night, he was admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit where he remained until Thursday. Johnson was not placed on a ventilator during that time, but did receive oxygen, No10 confirmed.

Upon his transfer to a lower dependency unit, politicians across the Commons sent good wishes while Donald Trump, the US president, tweeted: "Great News: Prime Minister Boris Johnson has just been moved out of Intensive Care. Get well Boris!!!"

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a close ally of the Prime Minister, told The Telegraph: "The oxygen and the rest has worked and his body is fighting back. It is unalloyed good news. I was plodding around the constituency earlier talking to businesses, social distancing of course, and the butcher I went to was in tears. He was so worried about Boris. In a peculiar way, he has epitomised what others have gone through. He's becoming a touchstone for the British resilience and will ultimately come out of this."

Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, added: "This is good news. I hope it is the beginning of a speedy recovery."

Liz Truss, the International Trade Secretary, said: "Brilliant news", while Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, said: "So good that the Prime Minister is out of intensive care and on the road to recovery."

• Covid19.govt.nz: The Government's official Covid-19 advisory website