A pastor who survived coronavirus after fighting for his life in intensive care has said he is "praying that God would breathe the breath of life" into Boris Johnson after his condition deteriorated on Monday night. 

Pastor Mark McClurg, 40, came close to death during his own battle with coronavirus and spent a week in the ICU at Ulster Hospital before finally being given the all clear and allowed to return home to his wife and three children. 

He shared a message that went viral on Facebook pleading with people to obey the social distancing measures by staying at home. 

Now he's praying that Mr Johnson will pull through like he did after the Prime Minister was moved to intensive care last night. 

"It is time for everyone to pray for our Prime Minister as he has been taken into ICU," said Mr McClurg on Twitter.

"I know what it is like to go into ICU battling this coronavirus. Praying for the NHS staff at his bed side. Praying that God would breathe the breath of life into his lungs."

He accompanied his tweet with the hashtag #prayforBoris. 

Mr Johnson is being treated at St Thomas' hospital in central London.  His move to the ICU came a day after he was hospitalised on Sunday because of "persistent" coronavirus symptoms.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is deputising in his place while he continues to undergo treatment.