Kate Garraway lovingly transformed home with ramps and wet room before husband Derek died

Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway is said to have worked endlessly to make her family home more comfortable for her late husband Derek Draper. The former political lobbyist, who has died aged 56, became the UK’s longest-suffering Covid-19 patient after first catching the illness in 2020.

Kate, 56, went out of her way to adapt the inside of their family home in North London so that Derek would have all the equipment he needed when he came in and out of hospital. The pair are parents to two children: 17-year-old daughter Darcey and son William, 14.

In order to make their house more accessible, Kate was said to have installed a ramp outside their property so a wheelchair could easily enter the threshold, and reports have said the family were considering installing a lift to the garden. The ITV star also had a machine installed that helped Derek stand upright and also worked closely with occupational therapists and tradesmen to make their house totally wheelchair accessible.

In her ITV documentary Finding Derek, Kate explained: “We are planning for ground-floor living, presuming he will be on a stretcher or in a wheelchair.” She went on to reveal that she slept downstairs in a “put-me-up bed” in order to be closer to her husband.

The star even installed a wet room in their garage, decorating it with small mosaic tiles because they were the “ones that Derek likes.” Sadly, despite moments of hope throughout his heartbreaking three-year battle following complications from Covid-19, Derek was again admitted to hospital with a heart attack at the end of 2023.

 

Yesterday, Kate released an emotional statement to her 1.2 million Instagram followers, confirming Derek had sadly died.

She 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,” she added.

“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.”

Kate’s Good Morning Britain co-stars, including Susanna Reid and Ben Shephard, have since offered their condolences and sent messages of support to the presenter and her family.

Via

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