Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper has died aged 56.
Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper has died aged 56
The 'Good Morning Britain' presenter took to Instagram to pay tribute to her late husband, who has been seriously ill since contracting COVID-19 in the early days of the pandemic in 2020.
Kate revealed Derek suffered a cardiac arrest in December, and she was holding his hand when he passed away.
She wrote: "I’m sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away. As some of you may know he has been critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December which, because of the damage inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications. Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed. (sic)"
Kate praised the medical teams who "fought so hard to save" her husband - who she has daughter Darcy, 17, and son Billy, 14, with - and made his final moments "as comfortable and dignified as possible".
She added: "I have so much more to say, and of course I will do so in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible. Sending so much love and thanks to all of you who have so generously given our family so much support. Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life. (sic)"
Derek spent 13 months in hospital making him Britain’s longest suffering coronavirus victim, and his health battle had left him with long-lasting organ damage and requiring 24/7 care at home.
The 56-year-old broadcaster made two award-winning documentaries on her family’s experience living with the changes in Derek’s health.
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