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Kate Garraway revealed her husband Derek Draper asked their children Darcey, 17, and Billy, 14, to “be good” and “take care” of her, as he fought for his life with Covid-19. The former lobbyist was struck down with the virus at the start of the pandemic which caused serious health complications and left him unable to care for himself.
During the beginning of his health battle, the Good Morning Britain presenter, 56, recalled how as he was taken to hospital, he turned to their children and said: “You’re the best children anybody could ever have asked for. Look after Mum, be good for her.”
After being discharged from hospital after a year, the 56-year-old received round-the-clock care from carers and his family at their London home. Most recently, Derek was taken back into medical care after suffering from a heart attack.
With the sudden health scare last month, Kate went on indefinite leave from her work commitments and spent some of her Christmas by his bedside. A source at the time told The Sun the family were praying for a miracle that he pulled through.
They said: “Everyone is praying for a miracle. Derek suffered a massive heart attack earlier this week which has left him fighting for his life all over again. 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… Kate is by his side 24 hours a day and is willing him on to win this latest battle for his life.”
On Friday, Kate announced the heartbreaking news that Derek had died.
In a lengthy statement shared on social media, 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.”
The presenter went on to say her spouse was “surrounded by his family in his final days” and that she was “by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed”.
The Good Morning Britain host added she had “so much more to say” and will do so when the time is right.
For now, she gave a special thank you to “all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible”.
Kate concluded: “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 couple’s children spoke out about their dad’s health ordeal in ITV’s documentary Caring For Derek back in 2022.
Darcey confessed: “I’ve always thought he will get better and get back. It’s not really scary in the way he looks scary, it’s just scary in the way we might lose him.”
Her younger brother Billy was also heard wishing for his father to get better, adding: “I really want him back, but I don’t know if he will get better or not.”
Speaking on This Morning, Kate had nothing but praise for her teenagers about the way they had handled the sudden change.
She said: “They are brilliant with him, they seem to instinctively know what he needs.
“Billy will go over and ask if he can hold his hand and is then aware that it might be too much.”
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Source: NewsFinale
