Good Morning Britain viewers have been urged to send their condolences to Kate Garraway following the death of her husband, Derek Draper. Derek, 56, who was known as the UK's longest-suffering Covid patient, passed away last week after a four-year battle. GMB has already received thousands of tributes, and the show has now opened a book of condolences that will be given to Kate.
A Book of Condolences
Richard Madeley announced, "Please feel free to keep sending us your thoughts. We will be collecting them, whether they come via email, Facebook, or tweets. We will pass them on to Kate in a special book of condolences so she can read them herself." Kate previously paid tribute to Derek in a statement read by Susanna Reid, expressing gratitude for the support and comfort from the GMB family and viewers during this difficult time.
A Four-Year Ordeal
In March 2020, Derek was admitted to the hospital with a Covid infection, which marked the beginning of years of health struggles. He spent 214 days on a ventilator, nearly four months in a coma, and experienced significant weight loss and speech difficulties. After returning home in April 2021, Derek required round-the-clock care and was hospitalized again in August the following year due to sepsis. His health continued to decline, and in December 2023, he suffered a major heart attack. Tragically, he passed away last week.
A Moving Farewell
Kate shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram, revealing that she held Derek's hand as he passed away. She expressed gratitude to the medical teams who fought to save him and thanked everyone who has supported her family. She ended her post by saying, "Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life."
Source: The Guardian
