Kate Garraway’s tears as she said her kids had ‘lost Derek’ years before he died

Kate Garraway heartbreakingly said her children had ‘effectively lost their father’ Derek Draper almost three years before he died.

The Good Morning Britain presenter announced today that her husband had passed away at the age of 56 after a lengthy battle with Covid. Former political lobbyist Derek needed round-the-clock care and assistance after being first placed in a medically induced coma and staying in hospital for 13 months after his initial diagnosis. Kate kept fans updated on his difficult journey and recently dropped out of her work commitments to be by his side when his health took another turn.

Derek, who had been battling numerous health problems since having Covid, suffered a heart attack in December. On January 5, Kate announced the heartbreaking news that he passed away on social media, telling followers that she was “holding his hand throughout the last long hours” before his death.

In 2020, an emotional Kate broke down in tears during an interview with Good Morning Britain colleagues Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid as she discussed her husband’s health battles on her children. She told her co-presenters that their kids, Darcey, 17, and 14-year-old Billy, had effectively already “lost their dad” as he had changed beyond recognition.

At the time, she explained how it felt “really emotional” to be back in the TV studio for the first time in four months. “I thought as soon as I walked in, I was going to cry. It’s so lovely to see your faces,” she said. “It’s like coming out of a little bubble of sadness.”

Explaining that Derek was in “a minimum state of consciousness”, she continued: “His eyes are opening but we don’t know what state of consciousness he has.” Kate added that she had spoken to a doctor at the hospital: “They said that that [he] was as sick as anyone [they’ve] seen in 35 years of working here”.

She added: “Six times they said ‘he’s not going to make it”. It is a very desperate situation, it’s a very difficult situation. It is a miracle he’s still alive.” She became tearful as she started discussing her children, Darcey and Billy. “Darcey and Billy have effectively lost their dad,” she said. “Oh god, I’m going to cry… it was such a happy time after the jungle.”

After his death, Kate announced the news with a picture of him shared on her Instagram. She said: “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.

“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.”

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