Richard Bacon has told how he “nearly died” and thought “this is it” during his recent illness.

But the ex-Blue Peter host said: “I am alive. Or in Lewisham. Or somewhere between the two.”

The 42-year-old fell ill while travelling to Britain from the US and was taken off the plane in a wheelchair before being put in a “medically induced coma” in a London hospital.

He posted on social media, for the first time following the illness, confirming that he has been suffering from an “unidentified double chest infection”.

Bacon 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 as 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.

‘How’s 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’,” the father-of-two said.

“But then I didn’t die. And I didn’t die because I’m on the NHS. Viva The NHS. See you for your 100th. By which time I probably will have pneumonia.”

Bacon told his followers: “This is how good Lewisham Hospital is.

“I walked in off the street simply complaining of being short of breath. Within 90 minutes they had placed me into a life-saving, six-day coma.”

He began the day by tweeting more generally about love, quoting the late TV presenter Fred Rogers, saying: “We need to help people to discover the true meaning of love. Love is generally confused with dependence” and adding: “I’m learning this.”

When comedian David Baddiel‏ replied: “Very much hope this is actually you tweeting this. In which case, welcome back,” Bacon joked: “Ha. I am alive. Or in Lewisham. Or somewhere between the two.”

Love Island presenter Caroline Flack was also among the celebrities wishing Bacon well on Twitter, writing: “So glad you’re OK.”

Richard Bacon tweet from hospital(Richard Bacon/Twitter)

Last week the DJ and TV presenter’s spokesman said he was “improving all the time”.

“This has been very difficult for everyone who loves Richard, all of whom appreciate the many messages of support which have been received, and there will be no further comment at this time.”