'I felt as if I was slipping away:' James Bond actor Colin Salmon, 59, reveals he 'wouldn't be here now' if he hadn't been rushed to hospital after he and his wife Fiona contracted Covid

Colin Salmon has revealed he 'wouldn't be here now' if he hadn't been rushed to hospital after contracting Covid in January this year. 

The star, 59, - who fell ill on New Year's Eve after his whole family got coronavirus - said he 'felt like he was slipping away' as the virus took hold rapidly. 

Colin starred as MI6 aide Charles Robinson opposite Pierce Brosnan in three James Bond films from 1997 to 2002, and has also starred in Doctor Who, 24, and Arrow. 

Speaking alongside his wife Fiona, the father-of-four told Hello!: 'I felt as if I was slipping away. If I hadn't gone to hospital, I wouldn't be here now.'  

The situation was made more worrying as artist Fiona suffers with a rare lung condition - interstitial lung disease - meaning she was in the vulnerable category.

She told the publication: 'I felt flattened and had a thumping headache, although it exacerbated my condition, I came through it.'

'I'm finding ways to live with it positively. I don't want my illness to define me.'

James revealed back in January that he was hospitalised after contracting COVID-19.

The star shared his secret health battle in a tweet as he urged his followers to avoid putting themselves at risk and get vaccinated. 

Colin revealed he'd contracted COVID-19 after sharing a video featuring a number of BAME celebrities, urging their community to get the coronavirus vaccine.

Revealing he'd taken part in the video, Colin re-posted the clip originally shared by Good Morning Britain presenter Adil Ray.

He wrote: 'Recorded this last week 9 days after my Covid hospitalisation. I'm getting there but this is real and affects us all. #covid19 #vaccine. Take a moment of self care and please watch this.'

Colin's post was soon flooded with messages of support, with Irish actor Emmett J. Scanlan writing: 'Brother!!!! Sending huge f***** love your way.'

After being inundated with messages from fans, Colin took to social media again to thank them for their support.

He wrote: 'Thank you for your kind words. Please take a moment for yourselves, check in, feel how you're doing. 

'We are hearty folk but we need to value our lives more. We don't have to always do the extra shift, put ourselves last, be brave. #SelfCareIsNotSelfish.'

Colin's appearance in the video was alongside stars such as actress Shobna Gulati and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, as they specifically reassured members of the BAME community that the vaccine was safe.

He is most well-known for his role as Charlie in the James Bond franchise, starring in Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day.

The screen star has also had roles in 24, Law and Order UK and the US series Limitless.