Kate Garraway’s husband loses health battle and dies at the age of 56: Here’s what happened

Kate Garraway shocked the world this morning when she announced her ‘darling husband’ Derek Draper had passed away. This comes after the 56-year-old suffered a massive heart attack on 11 December 2023 and was immediately rushed to the hospital. Kate cancelled all TV and Radio work while he was in hospital. Weeks after the devastating incident, Good Morning Britain’s host confirmed today - 5 January 2024 - that her loving husband lost the battle of his life.

Kate Garraway’s husband Derek Draper dies at the age of 56

Taking to her Instagram this morning, Kate revealed that he had been suffering from the ‘damage inflicted by Covid’ since March 2020 and the consequences finally caught up to him. Posting a picture of Derek, Kate 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.

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.

According to The Sun, the TV presenter spent her Christmas with Derek and their two kids - Darcey, 17, and Billy, 14 - in the hospital. In the post, she added:

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.

What was Derek Draper suffering from?

Ever since Derek contracted COVID-19 at the start of the pandemic in 2020, his health had been constantly deteriorating. He was placed in an induced coma and a ventilator. He ended up becoming the UK’s longest-suffering Covid patient after spending 13 months in hospital.

After being discharged in 2021, Derek was readmitted to hospital multiple times. He was diagnosed with ‘life-threatening’ sepsis and a kidney infection that was described as ‘dramatic but under control.’

Here's a look into Derek’s three years of struggle after contracting COVID.

2020

March 30 - Derek is rushed to a hospital as he became unresponsive with COVID-19.

April 24 - He’s put into an induced coma.

June 5 - Derek overcame COVID-19 but with serious damage to his body.

July 5 - He came out from a deep coma but remained ‘minimally conscious.’

September 6 - Kate shared that he lost 8 stones and cannot speak.

September 29 - Derek became the longest-suffering Covid patient after spending 184 days in hospital.

October 30 - The man woke up from a coma to speak for the first time.

October 31 - He was taken off the ventilator after 214 days in hospital.

2021

April 9 - Derek returned home after over a year in hospital and still required full-time home care.

2022

February - Derek is rushed to hospital again in Mexico for a secret medical trial.

July 6 - Derek was rushed to hospital again

August 1 - He was put in intensive care with ‘life-threatening’ sepsis.

2023

October 8 - Derek’s health further deteriorated after he contracted a kidney infection.

November 23 - He got admitted to hospital for treatment to help with movement.

December 11 - He then suffered a massive heart attack and rushed to hospital again.

Read more:

⋙ Kate Garraway: A doctor explains why Derek's health deteriorated after getting Covid

⋙ Mary Poppins actress Glynis Johns dies aged 100

⋙ MAFS expert Mel Schilling reveals her bowel cancer symptoms as she becomes cancer-free

Source used:

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