DEREK Draper’s final hours have been revealed by his heartbroken wife Kate Garraway.
The 56-year-old, who became known as the nation’s longest-suffering Covid patient, has tragically died.
A devastated Kate today paid tribute to her “darling husband”, and revealed how his final hours had been spent.
The heartbroken mum said she was at Derek’s side in the lead-up to his death.
Kate said she held his hand in those long hours until he was finally “at peace”.
She took to Instagram and 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.
“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 was recently left fighting for life in hospital after suffering a massive heart attack.
He had suffered health problems after contracting the virus at the start of the pandemic in 2020.
The dad was placed in an induced coma after contracting the virus and was placed on a ventilator.
Derek went on to spend 13 months in hospital.
Since being discharged in 2021, Derek had ended up back in hospital multiple times.
He was diagnosed with “life-threatening” sepsis and a kidney infection, which Kate later described as “dramatic but under control”.
In early December, he was rushed to hospital after suffering a heart attack.
