British TV Host Kate Garraway Announces the Death of Her 'Darling' Husband Derek Draper: 'Rest Gently'

Garraway shared a lengthy Instagram tribute revealing that Draper had been critically ill following a cardiac arrest in December

Kate Garraway is remembering her "darling" husband Derek Draper.

On Friday morning, the British broadcaster announced on Instagram that Draper had died following a December cardiac arrest and long-lasting COVID-19 complications.

"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," Garraway, 56, shared in a caption.

"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," she added, alongside a photo of him at an event.

U.K. newspaper The Guardian reports that the former lobbyist, and later psychotherapist, was 56 at the time of his death.

Related: British Newscaster Kate Garraway Says Husband May Never Fully Recover After Contracting COVID-19

Garraway and Draper wed in 2005 and they share two children, 17-year-old Darcey and 13-year-old William, per The Guardian.

In her latest post, Garraway wrote that she will share more about her husband in "due course," as she extended her thanks to "the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible."

As an anchor for ITV's Good Morning Britain, Garraway frequently updated viewers and social media followers on her husband's health after he initially contracted COVID-19 in March 2020.

In a June 2020 interview, the newscaster revealed that Draper's fight with the virus "has been won," but that it "wreaked extraordinary damage on his body" after he was put in a medically induced coma in April of that year.

Draper was the subject of a 2021 documentary called Finding Derek which documented her family's experience during the pandemic. In April of that year, Garraway published her book The Power of Hope about her husband's journey and the daily care he required, which she followed up with The Strength of Love: Embracing an Uncertain Future with Resilience and Optimism in February 2023.

Related: Joy Behar Out Sick from The View After Getting COVID for First Time: 'It Finally Got Her'

Several famous British figures — including Elton John — extended their condolences to Garraway via social media.

"My heart goes out to Kate, Darcey, William and the whole family following the passing of Derek. David, the boys and I are thinking of you and sending all our love," he wrote on his Instagram Story.

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Back in April 2023, Draper and Garraway attended John's "Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour," where the musician dedicated his song, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me" to their family.

"You gave the kids & Derek a moment that we will never forget and has lifted their spirits again to feel anything is possible," Garraway wrote at the time. "Thank you for your inspiring music and huge heart ❤️.Thank you too to everyone else who made the impossible possible."

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