Kate Garraway's heart-wrenching statement as her beloved spouse Derek passes away - OK! Magazine

Derek Draper, husband of Kate Garraway, has died at the age of 56 after a heart-wrenching three-year fight with Covid-19.

He is survived by his wife, who is also the host of Good Morning Britain, and their two children, 17-year-old Darcey and 14-year-old William.

The grieving Garraway took to her Instagram account, followed by 1.1 million people, to break the heart-breaking news.

Garraway expressed her deep-felt tribute to her late husband, acknowledging how fortunate she had been to have him in her life. She also revealed that she had been by his side, holding his hand in his final hours.

In her extended statement, she sorrowfully shared: 'It breaks my heart to inform everyone that my cherished husband Derek is no longer with us.'

'My husband was critically ill after suffering a heart attack in early December, and Covid-19, which he contracted in March 2020, worsened his condition and led to further complications,' she added, reflecting on the onset of his illness.

'With his family around him in his last days, I held his hand throughout his long hours until he passed on."

'I have so much more to add, and of course I will do so in due time, but for now I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the medical professionals who tried their best to save him and worked to make his last moments as relaxed and dignified as possible.

Sending out a message of gratitude, she said, 'Thank you to everyone who kindly lent our family so much support. Now you can rest in peace, Derek, my love. I was truly fortunate to have shared my life with you.'

Derek was in and out of the hospital multiple times in recent years after testing positive for Coronavirus in March 2020. He was noted as the longest-suffering Covid patient in the UK.

Derek succeeded in overcoming the lethal virus, which has claimed the lives of over 200,000 UK people, but his health was marred by a multitude of complications like blood clots in his lungs and heart defects.

The accomplished writer fell into a coma and was put on a ventilator, resulting in a hospital stay of 13 months. Although he was discharged from hospital in April 2021, his recovery to full health was a struggle, requiring constant care and support.

Tragically, Derek was again hospitalized towards the end of 2023, with rumors circulating that he had survived a heart attack but was now battling for his life. During this time, Garraway put her TV and radio work on hold to devote her time to her husband. This included taking a break from her duties at GMB, as reported by The Mirror.