Derek Draper dead: Kate Garraway’s husband dies holding her hand aged 56 after four-year Covid battle

Kate Garraway’s devoted husband tragically died holding her hand after a four-year battle with Covid.

Derek Draper, 56, was recently left fighting for his life in hospital after suffering a massive heart attack.

Kate Garraway’s husband Derek Draper has passed away Credit: Rex

Derek suffered catastrophic health problems after contracting Covid 2020. Credit: ITV

Derek with children Darcey and Billy in 2019. Credit: Rex

Kate announced his death on Instagram todayCredit: Instagram

Kate, 56, revealed she was holding Derek’s hand as he passed away in a touching Instagram post today.

She wrote: “I am saddened to tell you all that my dear husband Derek has passed away.

“As some of you may know, he was critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December, which, due to the damage caused by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications.

“Derek was surrounded by his family in his last days and I was by his side holding his hand during the last long hours and when he passed away.

It comes as…

“I have a lot more to say and of course I will in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and make his last 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 in peace now Derek my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life.”

Tributes poured in for Derek led by Kate’s famous friends.

Her Good Morning Britain co-star Susanna Reid said: “All our hearts go out to you all.”

Sir Elton John wrote: “So sorry to hear this news Kate. Love and thoughts to you and your family x”.

While This Morning’s Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary shared their support for Kate shortly after the announcement.

Alison said: We just want to say that all of us here at This Morning send our love to you Kate and of course [Kate and Derek’s children] Darcy and Billy.”

Derek suffered catastrophic health problems after contracting the virus at the start of the 2020 pandemic.

After contracting the virus, he was put into an induced coma and put on a ventilator.

Derek later became America’s longest-serving Covid patient after spending 13 months in hospital.

Since being discharged in 2021, Derek has been readmitted to the hospital on numerous occasions.

He was diagnosed with “life-threatening” sepsis and a kidney infection, which Kate later described as “dramatic but under control”.

He was recently rushed to the hospital after suffering a heart attack on December 11.

Good Morning Britain presenter Kate canceled all TV and radio work as she kept vigil by his bedside 24 hours a day.

The presenter reportedly spent Christmas in hospital with the couple’s two children Darcey (17) and Billy (14).

The source then said: “Everyone is praying for a miracle.

“Derek suffered a massive heart attack earlier this week which has left him fighting for his life again.

“It was sudden and a shock because he was so well and in great spirits, looking forward to Christmas at home with his family.

“This failure was a huge blow to his family and all the people who care about him.

“Kate is with him 24 hours a day and wants him to win this latest battle for his life.

“Derek has fought so many times, and always, against all odds, he’s come out on the other side.

“Kate was absolutely amazing – by his side as she was a great mum to Darcey and Billy and tried to live up to their expectations of a family Christmas.”

Mum, who married Derek in London in 2005, tirelessly juggled caring for him while working her TV and radio jobs as well as bringing up their two children.

Kate has also adapted their North London home and fronted two acclaimed ITV documentaries about her husband.

Derek was a former political consultant from Chorley, Lancashire, who went on to work in PR.

He was an aide to former Labor minister Peter Mandelson and was at the center of the scandal known as “Lobbygate” in 1998.

Derek was caught on tape telling an undercover reporter, posing as a businessman, that he could sell access to government ministers and create tax breaks for their clients.

He was later fired from his position at the Daily Express.

In 2009, he became the founder and editor of the blog LabourList, but stepped down after another email leak scandal.

Messages sent to him by Gordon Brown’s special adviser Damian McBride suggest using the site to smear senior Conservative MPs and their spouses.

After 35 years, Derek revoked his membership of the Labor Party in August 2019.

After retraining as a psychotherapist, Derek became a published author.

His books include Blair’s 100 Days and Sustaining Life and The Psychology of Everyday Life: 50 Little Insights for Thrive in the Modern World.

Kate and Derek married in September 2005 after being introduced by former GMTV political editor Gloria De Piero.

In November, she gave the “heartbreaking” update on Derek’s condition while speaking candidly on Peter Leonard’s Emotionally Speaking podcast.

Derek’s four-year health struggles

March 30, 2020: Derek is rushed unresponsive to hospital with Covid.
April 24: He was put into an induced coma.
June 5: Kat reveals that Derek is free of Covid, but his body has suffered damage.
July 5: Awakens from a deep coma, but remains “minimally conscious.”
September 6: Kate then reveals that Derek has lost eight stone and is unable to speak.
September 29: Derek becomes the longest-suffering Covid patient after spending 184 days in hospital.
October 30: Wakes up from a coma and speaks for the first time in seven months.
October 31: He is finally taken off the ventilator after 214 days in the hospital.
7 January 2021: Kate reveals that the children got to visit Derek for Christmas – the first time since he was in hospital.
April 9: Derek returns home after more than a year, but needs round-the-clock care.
May 4: He can talk more.
December 22: Photographed in public for the first time on panto.
February 21, 2022: Kate says they secretly flew to Mexico for a medical.
July 6: Derek is rushed back to the hospital.
August 1: He is in intensive care with “life-threatening” sepsis.
28 June 2023: Sees wife Kate made an MBE.
October 8: Kate reveals that Derek is “not feeling well” after the infection.
November 23: In the hospital for mobility assistance.
December 11: He fell ill and suffered a heart attack.

The host said: “He lives in a world of the unknown, when he wakes up in the morning it’s heartbreaking because it feels like you’re looking at someone who may have been living in his old life in his dreams and then he wakes up and you see the cloud of the battle before him descend.

“But if you look back, there is some progress, now he has more words and his voice is stronger.

“Occasionally you get a bit of Chorley’s accent in there so he seems to be more present but he still can’t sit without an assistant and his life is not his own.

“His brain has always been an ally and a friend, but now it’s his enemy. I think he’s had a big emotional struggle.”