Kate Garraway has announced that her husband Derek Draper has died, writing in an Instagram post that she was 'by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours'.
She wrote: "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."
Her post has been met with a wave of messages from people offering their condolences and sending all of their love to Kate and her family.
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Derek fell seriously ill with Covid-19 in March 2020 and spent 13 months in hospital before he was able to be discharged and go home.
However, he had sadly suffered serious damage from the virus and required daily care.
In 2021, Kate released the documentary Kate Garraway: Finding Derek, after allowing cameras into her family home to document what life was like with her husband in hospital with long Covid.
The TV presenter then confirmed in July 2022 that her husband had been readmitted to hospital.
Kate and Derek married in 2005, and the couple had two children together.
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Among those offering their love and support to Garraway at this heartbreaking time were Kaye Adams, Bryony Gordon and Carol Vorderman.
"In every way, you have demonstrated the strength of love," Adams wrote to Garraway on her Instagram post announcing her husband's death.
Others commenting to offer their best wishes said Kate had shown 'such braveness and dignity' following Derek's illness, and that 'as a family you did everything and more'.
Many more said they were sorry for her loss and thinking of Garraway and her family at this time.
Topics: Celebrity
Joe Harker