Derek Draper’s heartbreaking last request to his beloved children at the start of his Covid battle has resurfaced after his tragic death.
Kate Garraway announced the death of her husband of 18 years at the age of 56 on Instagram on Friday morning, after he suffered a heart attack in early December.
Derek had been plagued with health woes after becoming seriously ill with Covid in March 2020, when he was placed into a medically-induced coma and hospitalised for 13 months.
Kate frequently kept fans updated on his health struggles and his difficult journey during his Covid battle, previously sharing his heartbreaking last request before he was hospitalised.
While Derek was waiting for an ambulance before being taken to hospital in March 2020, he asked his two beloved children Darcey, 17, and Billy, 14, to ‘look after’ Kate.
Derek Draper’s heartbreaking final request to his children Darcey, 17, and Billy, 14, (pictured in 2018) before he was hospitalised at the start of his Covid battle has resurfaced after his death
While Derek was waiting for an ambulance before being taken to hospital in March 2020, he asked his two beloved children Darcey, 17, and Billy, 14, (pictured in 2019) to ‘look after’ Kate
He told them: ‘You’re the best children anybody could ever have asked for. Look after Mum, be good for her”,’ Kate previously shared while discussing his Covid battle in June 2020.
Derek was in and out of hospital after he fell seriously ill with coronavirus at the very start of the pandemic in March 2020, and was left with lasting damage to his organs.
Doctors put him in a medically induced coma and he became the longest-suffering coronavirus patient in the UK after spending 13 months in hospital, away from Kate and their two children.
However, he was readmitted several times with numerous health issues, including kidney failure, brain inflammation and liver damage.
Kate previously praised the children’s handling of their late father’s illness and gave an insight into their precious relationship.
She said her children tried to remain positive when Derek was first hospitalised in 2020, and would chat to him over video call when they were unable to visit him due to lockdown restrictions.
The television presenter told HELLO! magazine: ‘We’re keeping positive and doing everything we can to bring him around.
‘The children and I communicate with him every day on FaceTime, while a nurse holds his iPad. My priority is to make the children feel safe, not to let them see me feeling vulnerable in the world where Derek was my rock.’
He told them: ‘You’re the best children anybody could ever have asked for. Look after Mum, be good for her”‘
Kate has praised her two children for the way they handled her husband Derek Draper’s Covid battle (the family are pictured in 2021)
She added: ‘During their chats, they tell him what they’ve been doing, and their sense of humour often shines through. Darcey, who wants to be a barrister, said: “Dad, you’d better get better soon because I’m getting cleverer every day. You’ll never win an argument if you don’t get well soon”.’
Kate also praised her ‘heroic’ children for knowing ‘how to communicate’ with their father when he returned home from hospital but was left unable to talk due to his illness in 2021.
She told Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2 at the time: ‘He isn’t really able to speak at the moment so he can’t tell him off, I have to be the bad guy! They are besides themselves to have him home. They are my heroes.
‘They know instinctively how to talk to him but not ask too much from him. In a way that grownups want to see the old Derek, they have an instinct, there is a lot of love there.’
On Friday January 5, Kate emotionally paid tribute to Derek and gushed that she was ‘so lucky’ to have him as she confirmed his death.
The Good Morning Britain host, 56, took to Instagram to share a heartfelt post announced the passing of her husband following a long battle with Covid.
She confirmed he had died at the age of 56 after suffering a heart attack before Christmas and thanked the medical teams who fought ‘so hard to save him’.
Kate also shared that she was by her husband’s side ‘holding his hand’ during his final hours and gushed that she was ‘so lucky’ to have him in her life.
Kate Garraway announced the death of her husband of 18 years at the age of 56 on Instagram on Friday morning, after he suffered a heart attack in early December
Kate shared that she was by her husband’s side ‘holding his hand’ during his final hours as she penned an emotional tribute alongside a smiling picture of Derek
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.
‘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.’
understands that Derek passed away on Wednesday night in a North London hospital. Kate said that he died surrounded by family.
He had suffered a cardiac arrest in early December, with Kate spending Christmas at hospital.
understands that Derek passed away on Wednesday night in a North London hospital. Kate said that he died surrounded by family (Kate and Derek pictured in April 2009)
Derek had been plagued with health woes after becoming ill with Covid in March 2020, when he was placed into a medically-induced coma and hospitalised for 13 months (pictured in June with Kate’s parents Gordon and Marilyn)
The heartbreaking turn of events came after it was reported Derek was ‘in great spirits’ and looking forward to Christmas with his family.
A source told The Sun at the time: ‘It was sudden and a shock as he had been doing so well and was in great spirits, looking forward to Christmas at home with the family.
‘This setback has been a huge blow for his family and all the people caring for him.
‘Kate has been utterly incredible — by his side while being an amazing mum to Darcey and Billy, and trying to manage their expectations of a family Christmas.’