Kate Garraway has announced that her husband Derek Draper has died at the age of 56.
Posting a photo on Instagram, 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.
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‘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.’
The Good Morning Britain presenter went on to write: ‘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.’
The journalist, also 56, was married to Draper for almost 20 years.
They shared two children: daughter Darcey, 17, and son Billy, 14.
Draper’s death comes after he was left ‘fighting for his life’ following a ‘massive heart attack’ last month.
Garraway cancelled all work commitments to be by her husband’s side in hospital, having previously hoped he would be celebrating Christmas with their family.
His relatives began ‘praying for a miracle’, The Sun reported.
Draper was thought to have been Britain’s longest-suffering Coronavirus victim after contracting the disease in March 2020.
After falling into a coma and being put on a ventilator, he spent 13 months in hospital.
He then suffered a series of health woes, as the virus caused brain inflammation, kidney failure, and liver and pancreas damage.
Just weeks ago, Kate spoke about ‘adjusting to a new normal’ as her husband received more ‘treatment’.
Speaking to OK!, she shared: ‘Derek’s in hospital having some treatment. It’s not an emergency thing, it’s not a dramatic rush back into intensive care, thank goodness. It’s something that started last year that we hope will lead to improvement.
‘I’ve managed to get it in before the end of the year. It’s something we were trying to do in the summer, but there are referrals and time and all of those things.’
She added: ‘Every day we wait and see. There isn’t a dramatic improvement but, touch wood, things haven’t gone backwards either. So we’re just adjusting to a new normal.’
Following Draper’s return home, the family spent tens of thousands of pounds adapting their house in London for him.
Ramps were installed, a downstairs wet room was built, and a makeshift downstairs bedroom was added.
Kate – who said her late husband’s brain became ‘his own enemy’ as he lived in ‘the world of the unknown’ – has documented her story of caring for him in two successful documentaries.
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The couple shared the upheaval that dominated their family’s lives post-pandemic, first in the National Television Award-winning Finding Derek in 2021 and 2022’s Caring For Derek.
Draper was a Labour Party aide to former cabinet minister Peter Mandelson.
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He also worked as a psychotherapist and was the author of two books, Blair’s 100 Days and Life Support.
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