Kate Garraway has been comforted by her beloved husband Derek Draper ‘no longer being in pain’ following his devastating four-year battle with long Covid.
The Good Morning Britain host, 56, took to Instagram on Friday to announce the heartbreaking death of her husband Derek at the age of 56 in an emotional post.
She confirmed that he had died after suffering a heart attack before Christmas and thanked the medical teams who fought ‘so hard to save him’.
Derek had been plagued with health issues after becoming seriously ill with Covid in March 2020, when he was placed into a medically-induced coma and hospitalised for 13 months.
Following the tragic news of his death, a source close to Kate – who works with her at ITV – told how her only comfort is that her ‘brave’ husband is ‘no longer in pain’.
Kate Garraway has been comforted by her beloved husband Derek Draper ‘no longer being in pain’ following his devastating four-year battle with long Covid
The Good Morning Britain host, 56, took to Instagram on Friday to announce the heartbreaking death of her husband Derek (pictured in 2019) at the age of 56
They went on to say that Kate and her children Darcey, 17, and Billy, 14, have also been strengthened by the huge outpouring of love and support from the public.
The source told The Sun: ‘The only comfort for the family now is that brave, fearless Derek is no longer in pain.
‘That is bringing enormous solace — as is the kindness of strangers and public outpouring she’s received.’
They went on to praise Kate for her ‘strength of character and courage’ throughout Derek’s difficult battle with long Covid, and said she was ‘so brave’ for him and their two children.
Friends have said heartbroken Kate is ‘bearing up’ after her husband Derek’s death – as ITV told the star she could have ‘as much time off as she needs’.
A friend of Kate’s told the Mail: ‘She is doing okay, she is bearing up and is being strong for her children.’
Kate shared an emotional Instagram post confirming Derek’s death on Friday, and told how she was holding his hand when he died on Wednesday in a north London hospital.
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.
Following the news of his death, a source close to Kate has told how the only comfort for her is that her ‘brave’ husband is ‘no longer in pain’ (they are pictured with Kate’s parents in June)
They went on to say that Kate and her beloved children Darcey, 17, and Billy, 14, (pictured in 2021) have been strengthened by the huge outpouring of love and support from the public
‘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.
Derek had been plagued with health woes after contracting Covid in 2020 and suffered a cardiac arrest in early December, with Kate spending Christmas at hospital.
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.’
Derek had been plagued with health issues after becoming seriously ill with Covid in March 2020, when he was placed into a medically-induced coma and hospitalised for 13 months
In an Instagram post on Friday, Kate confirmed that Derek had died after suffering a heart attack before Christmas and thanked the medical teams who fought ‘so hard to save him’
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, apart from Kate and their two children.
However, he was readmitted several times with numerous health issues, including kidney failure, brain inflammation and liver damage.
Following the devastating news of his death, Kate has been flooded with a huge outpouring of support as her celebrity friends have paid tribute to Derek.
Leading the messages of sympathy was her Good Morning Britain co-star Susanna Reid, who simply wrote: ‘Our whole hearts are with you all while Alan Carr said: ‘Oh Kate that’s so awful. Sending you so much love and the deepest condolences.’
Sky News’ Ian King paid a moving tribute to Derek during a live broadcast after learning about the death of his ‘great friend’.
A crestfallen Ian, who studied at University of Manchester with 56-year-old Mr Draper, paid tribute to his friend in an emotional statement on air.
He said: ‘Derek was a sufferer with Covid right from the outset [and] very, very severely affected by that.
‘[It’s] awfully sad news – and very personal for me too because I was at university with Derek more than 30 years ago and I considered him a great friend. My condolences to the family.’
On GB News, Pip Tomson, who is a former Good Morning Britain colleague of Kate’s, also choked back tears at the news.
‘I just want to bring you some incredibly sad, breaking news that we’ve heard in the last few minutes,’ she said.
‘The husband of ITV presenter Kate Garraway – I’m sorry I worked with Kate for a long time so this is really difficult, such a strong woman – her husband Derek Draper who has been in a very serious condition after suffering Covid, he has passed away.’
Good Morning Britain presenter Ben Shephard also shared a message of support for his co-host and longtime friend Kate
Benshared a picture of Derek kissing Kate and wrote: ‘On what has been the saddest of days @kategarraway I’ve been reminding myself of the wonderful times and memories we have all shared together’
Good Morning Britain presenter Ben Shephard also shared a message of support for his co-host and longtime friend Kate.
Ben, 49, shared a picture of Derek kissing Kate on the cheek and wrote on Instagram: ‘On what has been the saddest of days @kategarraway I’ve been reminding myself of the wonderful times and memories we have all shared together.
‘This is how I’ll always think of Derek – bringing you so much joy, your smile says it all, the size of which is matched only by his love for you, Darcey and Bill. Sending all our love Kate to you and all the family.
‘Also thank you to everyone who has reached out to me, I promise I will pass on your messages, I know they will bring Kate so much comfort as they have for the last few years.’