Mourners share messages to Kate Garraway as GMB organises condolence book after Derek Draper’s death – how to write in
GOOD Morning Britain fans are being encouraged to send in their condolences to Kate Garraway after the death of her husband Derek Draper.
Derek, 56, who became known as the nation's longest-suffering Covid patient, died last week after a four-year ordeal.
GMB has already received thousands of tributes to Derek - and now the show has opened a book of condolences which will be passed on to Kate.
Richard Madeley said: "Please do feel free to keep sending us all of your thoughts.
"We're going to be collecting them all together whether they come on email, Facebook, tweets.
"We'll be passing them onto kate in a special book of condolences so she can read them herself."
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It comes after Kate paid tribute to her husband in a statement read out by Susanna Reid.
Kate said: "Hello everyone. Thank you all so much for all the wonderful messages you have sent me.
"It really does mean so much to me, Darcey, Billy, and all of Derek's family.
"They are an extraordinary comfort, and I am so lucky to feel connected to you all through these messages at this time when the raw pain of grief can be so isolating.
"And that is the wonderful thing, isn't it, about our GMB family - that all of us on the team and all of you watching from home are connected, supporting each other through the challenges of life.
In March 2020, Derek was rushed to hospital due to a Covid infection, which sparked years of heartbreaking health battles.
After being taken to hospital, Derek spent 214 days on a ventilator, nearly four months in an induced coma and lost eight stone, as well as his ability to speak properly.
After he moved back home in April 2021, Derek required round the clock care and was rushed back to hospital with "life-threatening" sepsis in August the following year.
Following this, Derek was struck down with more ill-health.
In December 2023, Kate was by her husband's side once more after he suffered a huge heart attack.
Sadly, last week, he passed away following his ongoing health battle.
Kate revealed she held her husband's hand as he passed away in a moving Instagram post.
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.
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"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."