KATE Garraway made a desperate 12-hour flight to the UK with husband Derek Draper in a bid to save his life after he suffered a cardiac arrest.
Brave Kate endured “eight grueling weeks” after the wife of Derek Draper, who contracted Covid, took him to Mexico for specialist treatment.
10
Kate Garraway desperately flew from Mexico to the UK in a bid to bring husband Derek Draper home after he suffered a cardiac arrestCredit: Splash News
10
Derek suffered brain, kidney and liver damage after being ravaged by Covid in March 2020. Credit: Splash News
10
Kate cuddles her husband as she looks after him at homeCredit: ITV
Good Morning Britain star Kate returned to London to look after their children Darcey, 17, and 14-year-old Billy – and even hoped to attend Piers Morgan’s Christmas party with Derek.
But in early December, while getting a connecting flight in Mexico, she was told her husband had suffered a heart attack.
Derek — who suffered brain, kidney and liver damage after being ravaged by Covid in March 2020 — was stabilized and put on a medical evacuation plane for the 12-hour journey home.
Kate was by his side during the harrowing flight during the week beginning December 11.
READ MORE ON KATE GARRAWAY
She and the children then spent Christmas with him in a London hospital before he died, aged 56, on Wednesday night.
A source told The Sun on Sunday: “It’s been an incredibly busy eight weeks for Kate and she’s still doing pretty amazing.
“Derek and Kate traveled to Mexico in November. They did it without fanfare because they didn’t want to get everyone’s hopes up.
“The treatment went incredibly well and his doctor and all the consultants were very optimistic about his long-term progress and future.
“Unfortunately, as Kate excitedly returned to bring Derek home, he went into cardiac arrest.
“Doctors have confirmed that this could have happened at any time in the last four years due to the damage to Derek’s organs caused by Covid. It was simply inevitable.
“Kate was with him in intensive care in Mexico and worked with Derek’s British consultants to oversee his treatment and his return, which was a military operation.
“Under the direction of a UK doctor, he was flown home by an ambulance — a specialist and extremely expensive ambulance — to be placed in intensive care at a London hospital.
“This in itself was a huge undertaking and an ordeal.
“Unfortunately, despite doctors in Mexico managing to get his heart beating steadily again, the damage caused by Covid meant that further complications ultimately affected his chances of recovery.”
The Sun first reported Derek’s cardiac arrest and Kate’s December 17 vigil on Sunday. And on December 24, we reported that she and the children spent Christmas at his bedside.
Derek is reportedly the longest surviving Covid patient after 184 days in and out of intensive care in 2020.
He returned home on a trial basis in April 2021 — a month after Kate and ITV aired Finding Derek, an award-winning documentary about his plight.
10
Kate flew an incredible 5,500 miles for her husbandCredit: Supplied
10
Derek during his Covid treatment Credit: ITV / Pixel8000
10
The husband of the Good Morning Britain star died tragically on Wednesday nightCredit: Dan Charity / The Sun
It showed the remarkable bond between Kate and Derek, who married in 2005, and their two children.
The program has also inspired millions of Britons whose families have been devastated by Covid.
A world-renowned American doctor contacted Kate after seeing the documentary.
And in February 2022, Derek was admitted to the first of three 28-day stays at a Mexican clinic while doctors continued to monitor his brain, liver and lungs.
Kate said at the time: “It took weeks and weeks of planning and when I told Derek about this place he was excited.
“He’s so desperate to get better — he’ll do anything he can to make it happen. I think there is actually a lot of hope that it will improve.
“I think the treatment could be positive. I want to be a little careful not to say too much, because I’m aware that everyone will say, ‘What’s a trial?’
“And I don’t want to start something, giving false hope to others who might be in a similar position.”
In October, 56-year-old Kate’s second ITV documentary Caring For Derek won another National Television Award.
This emphasized how much time and energy she devoted to taking care of him around the clock at home.
She also published two books The Power of Hope and The Power of Love.
Not only was Derek’s condition physically and emotionally draining on Kate and the family, it also took a toll on her financially as they had to adapt their house to accommodate his care.
However, Kate was determined to maintain a loving family environment and did not complain.
But there have been bright spots, such as when Kate brought Derek with her to Windsor Castle last June to receive an MBE for services to broadcasting, journalism and charity.
They were joined at the ceremony by her parents Gordon and Marilyn, and Kate spoke of Derek’s determination to be there.
After receiving the award from Prince William, she posted: “So what a week, which started with Derek in hospital and ended with Derek in hospital, but with this extraordinary day in the middle.”
She was understandably devastated by his death last week.
Kate 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 final days and I was by his side holding his hand during his last long hours and when he passed away.”
Kate said she would say more in due course, but thanked the medical teams “who fought so hard to save him and make his last moments as comfortable and dignified as possible”.
She added: “Sending so much love and thanks to all of you who have so generously given our family so much support.
“Rest gently and peacefully, Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life.”
Derek, born in Chorley, Lancs, in 1967, worked as a former researcher for politician Peter Mandelson and played a key role in the creation of New Labor in the 1990s.
Tributes poured in from former Prime Minister Tony Blair who described Derek as “a good colleague and a great friend”.
Mr Blair added: “It is extraordinary and incredible that Derek has survived so long after the ravages of Covid.
“And that was in large part because of the love Derek had for his family and they for him.”
Kate is now taking a break from her television and radio presenting roles, but plans to return to work in the future.
Derek’s funeral is expected to take place later this month.
10
Derek was heavily involved in the creation of Tony Blair’s ‘New Labour’ during his lobbying careerCredit: Times Media Ltd
10
Kate and Derek had two children – Darcey, 17, and Billy, 14 Credit: Rex Features
10
Kate won the 2022 NTA gong for the documentary Caring For DerekCredit: ITV
10
The couple married in 2005. Credits: Submitted
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education