Kate Garraway has been seen for the first time since her husband Derek Draper was left fighting for his life after suffering a heart attack.
The presenter, 56, cancelled all of the TV work commitments hold so she could be at Derek’s hospital bedside following the terrifying health scare three weeks ago.
Derek, 56, who has been plagued with health woes after contracting Covid in 2020, was said to be in critical condition, with Kate spending Christmas at hospital.
Kate was pictured leaving a north London Tesco in a Santa hat with several bags of food.
The Good Morning Britain host looked exhausted but seemed to be embracing the festivities despite her heartache at home.
Kate Garraway has been seen for the first time since her husband Derek Draper was left fighting for his life as he suffered a heart attack
Derek, 56, who has been plagued with health woes after contracting Covid in 2020, was said to be in critical condition (pictured in June with Kate’s parents Gordon and Marilyn)
The couple are proud parents to two children Darcey, 17, and Billy, 14.
Kate has been by by Derek’s side as he fights to recover in hospital.
A source told The Mirror: ‘Derek suffered a massive heart attack which has left him fighting for his life all over again. It was sudden and a shock as he had been doing well and was in great spirits, looking forward to Christmas at home with the family.
‘We just hope there will be some more positive news soon as he has been in such a long and tough battle with his health. Kate’s only focus right now is Derek and her family.
Following the news about Derek’s ill health, Kate’s Good Morning Britain co-stars sent an emotional message of support.
Charlotte Hawkins told viewers: ‘We wanted to start with an update. You have seen that Derek, Kate’s husband, is sadly very poorly at the moment.
‘We want to let Derek, Kate and the whole family know we are thinking of them, and that we’re sending them our very best wishes’.
Richard Madeley added: ‘It is a very difficult time’, as Charlotte agreed: ‘Extremely difficult. Lots of love.’
Following the news fans rushed to X, formerly known as Twitter, to send Derek their prayers and branded Kate ‘amazing and strong’ for her continued resilience.
Kate was pictured leaving a north London Tesco in a Santa hat with several bags of food
With one writing: ‘Kate so sorry to read about Derek. Keep strong and keep believing he will pull through. He is a fighter! Sending love!’.
The heartbreaking turn of events came after it was reported Derek was ‘in great spirits’ and looking forward to Christmas with his family.
A source told The Sun: ‘It was sudden and a shock as he had been doing so well and was in great spirits, looking forward to Christmas at home with the family.
‘This setback has been a huge blow for his family and all the people caring for him.
‘Kate has been utterly incredible — by his side while being an amazing mum to Darcey and Billy, and trying to manage their expectations of a family Christmas.’
Derek has been in and out of hospital after he fell seriously ill with coronavirus at the very start of the pandemic in March 2020, and was left with lasting damage to his organs.
Doctors put him in a medically induced coma and he became the longest-suffering coronavirus patient in the UK after spending 13 months in hospital, apart from Kate and their two children.
However, he has readmitted several times with numerous health issues, including kidney failure, brain inflammation and liver damage.
Kate’s Good Morning Britain co-stars sent an emotional message of support following the news about Derek’s ill health
Derek has been in and out of hospital after he fell seriously ill with coronavirus at the very start of the pandemic in March 2020, and was left with lasting damage to his organs
Earlier this year, Kate revealed she was planning to take Derek to Mexico for a second bout of experimental treatment in a desperate bid to save him from the devastating effects of Covid.
Following a previously ‘gruelling’ trip to Mexico at the beginning of 2022, Kate shared her hopes at flying Derek back for an additional round of treatment.
Kate told The Sun: ‘The effort required to get him there is extraordinary, and obviously we are relying on the grace of these specialists to help him.
‘I can’t thank all those involved in getting him to Mexico enough because without them he wouldn’t have the chance of this potentially life-changing treatment.’
She added: ‘The plan is to go back for another round of treatment and continue the trial in a way that is financially viable.’
Although Kate insisted that they’d had ‘wonderful treatment’ from the NHS, which were essential in keeping her husband alive, the foreign trips offer ‘potentially life saving treatment’.
As well as the trip, the Smooth Radio presenter has had to spend ‘tens of thousands of pounds’ adapting the family home in London for Derek, which included the installation of ramps, a downstairs wet room and a makeshift downstairs bedroom.
Due to the severity of his illness and length of time spent in hospital he remains unable to walk and has developed debilitating symptoms.
