When did Derek Draper contract Covid-19? Health battle timeline
KATE Garraway’s husband Derek Draper passed away in January 2024.
Derek, a father of two, died following a three-year battle with Covid.
When did Derek Draper contract Covid-19?
Kate kept the public updated on her husband's condition after he was first diagnosed with Covid.
Derek was first rushed to hospital with Covid in March 2020, before spending 13 months there, after falling into a coma and being put on a ventilator.
He has since suffered ongoing health problems, with brain inflammation, kidney failure, and liver and pancreas damage - as well as having difficulty breathing unaided.
Timeline of Derek Draper's health battle
March 2020 - Derek contracts Covid-19
Former political lobbyist Derek was left in a critical condition when he contracted Covid in 2020.
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He was rushed to the hospital and placed in intensive care.
A spokesman for Kate at the time said: “Kate’s husband Derek Draper has been taken to hospital and is being treated in intensive care with a confirmed case of Covid-19.
‘’He was admitted on Monday and has since tested positive for the virus. Kate hasn’t been tested however she has also been displaying mild symptoms, also since Monday, and as a result has been on strict isolation with her children at home."
April 2020 - Derek placed into a coma
Following his admission to the hospital, Derek was placed on a ventilator and put in an induced coma.
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Kate and the couple’s two kids Darcey and Billy, were unable to visit him due to strict Covid rules which were in place at the time.
Kate recalled: "He couldn't really speak to me because of the mask, but he was begging me, 'I feel like I'm suffocating, please let them put me in a coma', because there was a debate about that.
"But I said 'no we've got to wait' because if his lungs can handle it that's better. Then on the Sunday morning, they rang me up and said we're going to be him in a coma, and he just said to me 'I love you, I am sorry I have to leave you', and I said 'It's only for three or four days and you're going to find this is good, this is good. This is what you wanted, to rest.'"
Kate continued: "He said to me 'you have saved my life, I don't just mean now I mean everything. Being married to you and the children.'
"And I said, 'I love you I love you' and then he was gone and that was it. He was under."
July 2020 - Derek wakes from his coma and Kate returns to Good Morning Britain
In July 2020, Kate Garraway revealed that Derek had emerged from his Covid-19 coma after spending 98 days in hospital.
However, Kate's GMB colleague Piers Morgan said news of Derek waking from his coma was "probably not as positive" as some believed and his recovery was still "uncertain".
Following the news, Kate bravely returned to her Good Morning Britain role that same month following a four-month break.
March 2021 - Kate releases a documentary on Derek's condition
Derek — whose days have largely been filled with appointments, hospital trips, and sleeping — has been the subject of two critically acclaimed documentaries fronted by Kate.
In March 2021, a documentary titled Finding Derek aired, in which Kate revealed how emotional it was to see Derek make such progress after spending 214 days in hospital.
In the documentaries, it also emerged that Kate survives on around four hours of sleep, often getting up every two hours to help the carer move Derek.
April 2021 - Derek returns home
In April 2021, much to the delight of Kate and their kids, Derek was taken off all machines after more than a year in hospital fighting Covid.
Derek returned home - a decision that left their children feeling 'thrilled' after medical experts decided he could leave.
Kate’s husband continued to receive round-the-clock care at the family’s adapted property in North London.
April 2022 - Kate meets Derek's nurse
The following year, Kate fought back tears as she hugged hero Covid nurse Beth Dixon on Good Morning Britain.
Beth cared for both Kate's husband Derek and best-selling author Michael Rosen, who were seriously ill with the virus.
Overwhelmed Kate got up and hugged Beth partway through the chat to show her appreciation for the nurse's efforts.
Kate said: “You cared for Michael and Derek I think, I found out was two beds away. Did you care for him?”
When she replied that she did, Kate told her: “Thank you so much by the way. Thank you so much.”
August 2022 - Derek rushed to hospital with sepsis
Just months later, in August 2022, Kate revealed that Derek was rushed into intensive care after contracting "life-threatening" sepsis.
At the time, a worried Kate told of how her ‘’fingers were crossed’’ as he fought for recovery in hospital once more.
Kate went on to thank the public for their messages of support and praised doctors for keeping Derek alive.
June 2023 - Kate receives MBE and Derek attends
In June 2023, Derek watched on proudly with a beaming smile as wife Kate was made an MBE at Windsor Castle.
She looked stunning for the special occasion in a cream dress with a pleated skirt and a matching fascinator.
Derek looked very smart in a suit and tie as he watched wife Kate's interaction with Prince William from his wheelchair.
Kate was recognised for her services to broadcasting, journalism, and charity.
December 2023 - Derek suffers a heart attack
In December 2023, Derek was left fighting for his life once more after suffering from a heart attack.
Following Derek’s health emergency, Kate cancelled all TV and radio work in order to keep a 24-7 vigil, as well as taking an indefinite leave of absence from presenting.
Following the news, colleagues of Kate sent her supportive messages as she sat by her seriously ill husband's bedside.
She endured a heartbreaking Christmas as Derek continued to fight for his life.
Derek lost his fight in January 2024.
Kate revealed on Instagram that she held Derek's hand as he passed away.
The last photograph of Derek shows him as the dedicated husband he was.
2020
- March 30: Derek rushed to hospital after testing positive for coronavirus.
- Mid April: Derek was admitted to intensive care four days later. He entered a coma as his condition deteriorated.
- May 1: Kate shared that Derek is still unresponsive.
- May 28: The GMB presenter said that Derek is still in a coma and under the care of the NHS but that she is hopeful.
- May 31: Kate revealed she has been forced to find new ways to keep her kids strong as Derek remains critical.
- June 2: Kate is urged to "have hope" as her fans send her uplifting stories.
- June 5: Kate made an emotional appearance on GMB to tell viewers that her husband is "very very sick" but "Covid free", and that they are not sure if "he will recover".
- June 6: Kate told The Sun that Derek may be locked in a coma forever after coronavirus "attacked everything".
- June 7: Kate also revealed to The Sun that her son, Billy, sleeps beside his dad's empty bed while he is in a coronavirus coma.
- June 14: Piers Morgan writes in his Daily Mail column that Kate doesn't know if Derek will ever come home.
- July 5: Kate revealed that Derek has woken from the coma and is now opening his eyes.
- July 8: Kate goes on GMB to talk about Derek being out of coma but how it is "a miracle he is still alive".
- July 13: Kate returns to GMB.
- July 14: Kate reveals she will be visiting Derek in hospital.
- July 19: Kate revealed her heartache at Derek missing their son's birthday.
- July 21: Kate revealed her husband heard her voice when nurses put GMB on for him. She also revealed that she would be visiting him for a second time.
- July 22: Kate's Global radio colleague Roman Kemp revealed that her kids are going through a "tough time".
- July 27: On GMB, Kate reveals she is "at her limit" after a car tyre blowout on the motorway. The terrifying blowout occurred when Kate was driving back to the hospital to visit Derek after taking their children on a trip to Kent.
- July 28: Kate reveals Derek is stable but hasn't improved, but that she visited him in hospital a day earlier despite her car blowout.
- July 29: Kate's Good Morning Britain colleague Alex Beresford said he has been "in awe" of her resilience.
- August 3: Kate revealed Jeremy Kyle helped take her kids Billy and Darcey to stay with ill dad Derek’s parents.
- August 4: Kate revealed how she wanted to donate her own blood to save Derek.
- August 10: Kate revealed how she desperately wants Derek to wake up.
- August 11: Kate said she will donate "liquid gold" plasma although it's too late for it to have an affect on Derek as he is no longer fighting coronavirus.
- August 13: Kate wishes husband Derek "good morning" as she tells GMB viewers he’ll be watching in hospital.
- August 17: Kate missed her slot on Good Morning Britain - though she was scheduled to have a day off.
- August 19: Kate returns to GMB after taking a few days off. - she revealed she fought back tears at a "challenging" day being separated from Derek on his 53rd birthday.
- August 20: Kate reveals she has received "abuse" about "laughing and joking" on Good Morning Britain while Derek remains in intensive care.
- September 10: Kate revealed it's a "tough day" as it's their 15th Wedding Anniversary and she cannot visit Derek.
- September 11: Kate revealed Derek was still unable to speak but she would be visiting him in hospital to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary.
- September 25: Kate reveals it had been a "tough week" for Derek.
- September 28: Kate's ITV breakfast colleague Lorraine Kelly rips into Covid protesters saying they need to see Kate's "hell’.
- September 29: It was revealed how Derek's six-month Covid battle is now longest in the UK.
- October 1: Kate said she is tempted to show Covid rule-breakers a picture of Derek and warned "you don’t want this in your life’".
- October 30: Derek uttered his first word - "pain" after 214 days in hospital.
- November 20: Kate says she feels "physically sick" about Christmas alone without Derek.
- December 7: Kate reflected on her "missed moments" of 2020 as husband continues to battle coronavirus in hospital
- December 17: Kate fights back tears as she thanks the nurses who ‘saved husband Derek’s life’ for the first time.
2021
- January 7, 2021: Kate reveals her kids saw sick husband Derek for the first time since March 2020 over Christmas, but lockdown means she's banned from seeing him again.
- February 11, 2021: Kate returns to GMB and reveals her heartache after being unable to see Derek since Christmas and says there’s "no end in sight".
- February 26, 2021: Dr Hilary reveals he has been supporting Kate.
- March 20, 2021: Kate said her seriously-ill husband Derek's brain is "no longer his friend".
- March 23. 2021: Kate's Finding Derek documentary airs and reveals the heartbreaking moment her husband woke up from his coma.
- April 8, 2021: Derek set to return home where he will continue to receive round-the-clock care.
- April 9, 2021: Derek is finally back in his family home in North London after over a year in hospital.
- September 9, 2021: Kate was left in tears as she accepted an NTA gong for her documentary about Derek.
- October 9, 2021: Kate claimed Derek is still sleeping 20 hours a day and is unable to communicate as he did before contracting Covid.
- October 21, 2021: Kate revealed Prince Charles is the royal who extended a helping hand amid Derek's Covid battle during the Prince's Trust Awards at St James' Palace in London.
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2022
- January 4, 2022: Kate says Derek is phenomenally fatigued and very weak, and they don’t know what the New Year will bring.
- February 21, 2022: It was revealed Derek could die within three days if left alone.
- February 22, 2022: Kate said she slept for the first time in TWO years after moving in with former GMTV co-star
- July 6, 2022: Kate revealed at the Tric Awards that Derek was back in hospital.
- July 20, 2022: Kate pulled out of GMB and Smooth FM to stay by Derek's side in hospital as his health took a turn.
- August 1, 2022: Kate returned to GMB where she revealed Derek had rushed into hospital after contracting sepsis.
2023
- June 8, 2023: Kate appears on Loose Women and says Derek can communicate by whispering.
- June 28, 2023: Derek watches on as Kate is awarded her MBE by Prince William.
- July 2, 2023: Kate reveals that Derek ended up in hospital shortly after her MBE ceremony.
- September 11, 2023: Kate reveals heartbreaking reason she kept terrifying hospital dash secret amid Derek's health battle.
- September 11, 2023: Kate reveals fears for her children amid Derek’s health battle.
- September 14, 2023: Kate fights back tears as she demands a meeting with the Health Secretary and reveals details of Derek’s ‘’new infection’’.
- October 31, 2023: Kate opened up on her spouse being well enough to attend former Labour minister Lord Peter Mandelson's wedding.
- November 23, 2023: Kate appears on Loose Women and says Derek is back in hospital.
- November 29, 2023: The presenter gave an interview on her husband's health saying ‘’his brain is now his worst enemy’’.
- December 16, 2023: Kate cancels all TV and radio work after Derek suffers from a heart attack.
- December 16, 2023: Kate showered with support from fans as husband Derek fights for his life following heart attack.
- December 18, 2023: Kate is preparing kids for heartbreaking Christmas as husband Derek Draper fights for his life.
- December 19, 2023: Derek isn’t in a ‘good way’, her co-star says in worrying update
- December 19, 2023: Kate reveals hope that husband Derek could finally spend Christmas at home just months before he suffered a serious heart attack.