THE Archbishop of York has spoken of how seriously ill he became during a recent stay in hospital.

Dr John Sentamu was admitted to hospital, in London, in May, suffering from severe gastro-enteritis.

An examination revealed he had appendix problems and the organ was removed.

He suffered an infection, however, resulting from the toxins of the appendix, and the surgeon had to open the wound so that it could be dressed daily.

Dr Sentamu was discharged on June 8 after almost two weeks in hospital.

He appeared on Chris Evans’ breakfast show, on BBC Radio 2, yesterday, in which he delivered the programme’s “pause for thought”.

The 62-year-old, who was inaugurated as Archbishop of York in November 2005, discussed the authorised version of the Bible and what he described as “God’s love affair with humanity”.

Speaking with the presenter beforehand, Dr Sentamu said: “I am a very fortunate man, because [the surgeon] said I was pretty sick at the time.”

Dr Sentamu told how he started feeling ill after a meeting with US President Barack Obama.

He said: “I was staying at Lambeth Palace and started being sick during the night.

“I felt I was losing energy, so I went to A&E and they admitted me straight away, thinking it was food poisoning.

“The surgeon said he had never seen such a terrible appendix – it was full of gangrene, and thank God it didn’t burst.”

After his release from hospital, Dr Sentamu released a statement, in which he thanked the medical staff at St Thomas’ Hospital, in London, where he was treated, and repeated the tribute on national radio yesterday.

He said: “I do not have a lot of energy at the moment. The blood was so poisoned it is going to take time before it is back to normal.

“I was so, so well lookedafter.”

Dr Sentamu, who has appeared on Chris Evans’ show several times in the past, brought a banana cake for the team to try. Between mouthfuls, the host said: “Whatever the surgeon removed, he did not remove your talent for baking.”