Kate Garraway was met with a slew of celebrity tributes after announcing the death of her husband Derek Draper on Friday morning.
Leading the was her Good Morning Britain co-star Susanna Reid, who simply wrote: ‘Our whole hearts are with you all’ while Alan Carr wrote: ‘Oh Kate that’s so awful. Sending you so much love and the deepest condolences’.
Kate revealed the heartbreaking news that her husband has died aged 56 after suffering a heart attack before Christmas following a long battle with Covid.
She announced the passing on Instagram, and revealed she was holding his hand when he died on Wednesday night in a north London hospital.
Derek had been plagued with health woes after contracting Covid in 2020 and suffered a cardiac arrest in December, with Kate spending Christmas at hospital.
Kate Garraway was met with a slew of celebrity tributes after announcing the death of her husband Derek Draper on Friday (the couple are pictured in 2019)
Kate revealed she was holding her husband’s hand when she died
Leading the was her Good Morning Britain co-star Susanna Reid, who simply wrote: ‘Our whole hearts are with you all’ while Alan Carr wrote: ‘Oh Kate that’s so awful. Sending you so much love and the deepest condolences’
Susanna is pictured with Kate and Ben Shephard on Good Morning Britain in 2022
In a post on Instagram she said: ‘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.
‘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.’
Further tributes from celebrity friends and fans were helmed by Coronation Street star Samia Longchambon, who wrote: ‘So sorry to hear this Kate. Sending love to you and your beautiful family’.
Lisa Snowdon penned: ‘Kate. Sending you all so much love and strength at this heartbreaking time. So cruel and so sad. RIP Derek’.
A host of stars reached out to the star in the wake of the tragic announcement
Carol Vorderman reached out to write: ‘Oh no Kate. I’m so very very sorry. Sending you and your beautiful family the deepest condolences’.
Author and journalist Bryony Gordon wrote: ‘I’m so so sorry Kate. Sending you and your children all my love xxxxx’
Kaye Adams wrote: ‘In every way, you have demonstrated the strength of love . So sorry x’, alongside TOWIE star Carol Wright’s tribute which read: ‘This is so sad, but he was lucky to have an amazing family who loved hm dearly. Rest in peace wonderful person. X ❤️’
Michelle Heaton wrote: ‘Oh Kate that’s so awful. Sending you so much love and the deepest condolences’ alongside Georgia Toffolo’s tribute, which read: ‘I’m so so sorry Kate…
‘I have such fond memories of Derek while he was waiting for you, while you were in the jungle. I loved the way he spoke of your love story. Thinking of you so much. X’
Kate and Derek are pictured in November 2008
The couple are pictured in June with Kate’s parents Gordon and Marilyn
