Kate Garraway's heartbreaking statement in full as 'darling husband Derek' dies

ok.co.uk:

Kate Garraway 's husband Derek Draper has died aged 56 after a devastating three year battle with Covid-19. He leaves behind his wife, Good Morning Britain host Kate, 56, and their two children, daughter Darcey, 17, and son William, 14.The TV star took to Instagram to share the devastating news with her 1.1million Instagram followers.

Kate paid tribute to her husband, saying she was "so lucky" to have shared her life with him, and revealed she held his hand through his final hours.

In a lengthy statement, 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. "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." 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 now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life." Derek had been in and out of hospital many times over the past few years after he became seriously ill with coronavirus in March 2020.