The Duke of Cambridge, 39, explained how he was left feeling like ‘the whole word was dying’ after helping to save the life of an injured boy only a few years older than his son, Prince George

Prince WIlliam has revealed how he was left in deep distress while serving as an air ambulance pilot.

The Duke of Cambridge, 39, shared the emotional crisis he underwent after helping to save the life of a boy at “death’s door” only a few years older than his son, Prince George.

Speaking on a new podcast for Apple Fitness+ on the impact of dealing with 999 emergencies, the father-of-three said he was left feeling like ‘the whole word was dying’ after what he experienced that day, and admitted: “It even makes me quite emotional now.”

He added that he felt “lucky enough” to find someone in the Air Ambulance Service that he could talk through his emotions, and explained why he is ­campaigning for 999 heroes to get ­better mental health support.

In the podcast, he said: “It really hit me weeks later. It was like someone had put a key in a lock and opened it without me giving permission to do that.

“I felt like the whole world was dying. It’s an extraordinary feeling. You just feel everyone’s in pain, everyone’s suffering. And that’s not me. I’ve never felt that before.

It is believed the Prince was referring to a car accident which left five-year-old Bobby Hughes brain damaged in 2017.

The royal describes how meeting the boy’s family helped him to conquer his demons over time.

Bobby’s mother, Carly, 40, said last night: ‘William told us how it affected him as a father and how he felt our pain.’

‘He’s amazing, a credit to our country… I’ve looked into his eyes and, genuinely, he has got a kind heart.’

The 38-minute programme features celebrities sharing their memories while going on a walk.

Prince William’s podcast was filmed on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, with the royal taking a three-mile walk between St Mary Magdalene Church and his home at Anmer Hall – the route he normally takes with his family on Christmas Day.

Last night, a royal source told Mail on Sunday: ‘You really don’t hear this sort of interview very often. Its a deeply significant insight into the Duke of Cambridge, not just as a member of the Royal family but as a person.’

It is thought that it was William’s idea to take part in the Time To Walk series after hearing previous episodes.

Other guests that have featured on the podcast include country singer Dolly Parton, model Naomi Campbell and boxer Anthony Joshua.

During the interview, Wills also shared a happy memory of his mother Princess Diana.

He told listeners: “When I was younger, Harry and I, we were at boarding school. And my mother used to play all sorts of songs to kind of while away the anxiety of going back to school.

“And one of the songs I massively remember and has stuck with me all this time, and I still, to this day, still quite enjoy secretly, is Tina Turner’s ‘The Best’ because sitting in the backseat, singing away, it felt like a real family moment.

“And my mother, she’d be driving along, singing at the top of her voice. And we’d even get the policeman in the car, he’d be occasionally singing along as well.

“You’d be singing and listening to the music right the way out into the gates of school, when they dropped you off. When I listen to it now, it takes me back to those car rides and brings back lots of memories of my mother.”