Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper, 56, dies after Covid health battle

Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper has died at the age of 56, she has announced.

She announced the tragic news in an Instagram post, adding she was “by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours”.

She added in her message: “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.

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"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."

Derek, a former Labour lobbyist, contracted coronavirus in March 2020 and was taken to the hospital where he was put in an induced coma. He spent just over a year in the hospital before returning home to Kate and their children - Darcy and Billy - in April 2021 and has needed round-the-clock care ever since due to the damaging effects the virus had on his body.

Kate recently shared how Derek was in the hospital for planned treatment. However, Derek