A Dartford dad has thanked NHS staff for saving his life after contracting coronavirus and battling from the brink of death.

Uber driver Biniam Kidane, 43, also urged others to stay at home to help protect their own relatives from the disease and help the NHS in their fight to save lives.

This week he received a huge round of applause as he was discharged from Darent Valley Hospital where he was in a coma and on a ventilator in intensive care for nearly a fortnight.

Speaking from home later he praised hospital staff and said he had been close to death.

"These people they are amazing people" he said. "I don't even have words to say, but I have to say carry on guys.

"You saved my life. They are like a mum, like a dad, like a brother, they are everything. They give you hope.
"It's very hard to stand without hope. When I was crying and upset they would cry with you."

Gallery1

And he urged everyone to help in the fight against coronavirus by continuing to follow guidelines on staying at home and social distancing.

"To be honest with you when I was there, I would feel I'm gone, I'm done, I will die, because sometimes I couldn't breathe," he added. "I nearly died, trust me, so people please, stay home, and don't take this as simple, it's not. Even if you are young, you pass it to you father, your father will die, so if you love your dad, if you love your mum, if you love your family, stay home.

"This is for the short term. I don't think this is for long term, so for short term stay home, don't lose your mum and your dad - even yourself, you don't know what will happen."

Watch him talk about his experience below

For the latest coronavirus news and advice, click here.

Read more: all the latest news from Dartford.