Derek Draper, who used to work in politics and was married to TV host Kate Garraway, passed away because of severe health problems caused by the coronavirus after struggling for many years.
The 56-year-old was known as one of the UK’s COVID patients who had been sick for a very long time. He spent 13 months in the hospital after getting the virus in March 2020.
This morning on her Instagram, Garraway shared the news that her husband had been very sick. He had a heart attack in early December, and because of the harm caused by Covid in March 2020, there were more health problems.
“I feel really sad to share with all of you that my beloved husband Derek has passed away,” wrote Garraway. “In his final days, Derek was with his family, and I was by his side, holding his hand during the last long hours and when he passed away.”
In her most recent post, Garraway mentioned that she’ll tell more about her husband when the time is right. She also expressed gratitude to the medical teams who worked tirelessly to save him and ensure his last moments were as comfortable and dignified as possible.
As the host of ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Garraway regularly kept viewers and social media followers informed about her husband’s health since he first got COVID-19 in March 2020.
Kate Garraway Husband Derek Draper and former political adviser, dies after suffering long-lasting COVID symptoms
In an interview in June 2020, she shared that Draper had overcome the battle with the virus, but it had caused significant harm to his body. He had been placed in a medically induced coma in April of that year.
In 2021, Draper became the focus of a documentary titled “Finding Derek,” which detailed Garraway’s family’s journey during the pandemic. In April of the same year, Garraway released her book, “The Power of Hope,” recounting her husband’s journey and the daily care he needed. She later followed this with another book, “The Strength of Love: Embracing an Uncertain Future with Resilience and Optimism,” in February 2023.
In April 2023, Draper and Garraway went to John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour.” During the event, the musician dedicated his song, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me,” to their family.
Garraway expressed her gratitude, saying, “You gave the kids & Derek a moment that we will never forget and has lifted their spirits again to feel anything is possible. Thank you for your inspiring music and huge heart ❤️. Thank you too to everyone else who made the impossible possible.”