Kate Garraway's ordeal to get Derek Draper home after heart attack

Garraway revealed on Friday (January 5) that Draper had died aged 56 after suffering long-lasting complications from contracting Covid-19.

The former lobbyist and political adviser fell seriously ill with Covid-19 in March 2020 and spent 13 months in hospital before he was discharged.

Despite being free of the virus, he had suffered long-lasting damage to his organs and required daily care.

Kate Garraway will take a leave of absence from her presenting roles following her husband's death. (Image: Andrew Matthews/PA)

Kate Garraway's 12-hour flight to get husband Derek Draper home following cardiac arrest

It has now been revealed that Garraway endured a "gruelling" eight weeks in the lead up to her husband's death this week which included a 12-hour flight from Mexico in an attempt to get him home after a heart attack, The Sun reported.

Draper was flown to Mexico in November, the media outlet reported, where he underwent specialist treatment. 

Garraway returned briefly to London to care for their children Darcey, 17, and Billy, 14, but while on her way back to Mexico was informed Draper had suffered cardiac arrest.

He was stabilised and and put on a medical-evacuation plane for the 12-hour trip home with Garraway by his side.

A source, speaking to The Sun, said: “It’s been an unbelievably gruelling eight weeks for Kate, and how she is still going is quite remarkable.

Derek Draper was taken to Mexico in November for specialist treatment. (Image: PA)

“Derek and Kate made the trip to Mexico in November. They did it without fanfare as they didn’t want to get up everyone’s hopes.

“The treatment went incredibly well, and his doctor and all the consultants were hugely optimistic about his long-term progress, and future.

“Unfortunately as Kate excitedly returned to bring Derek home he suffered a cardiac arrest.

“Doctors confirmed this could have happened at any point over the last four years due to the damage to Derek’s organs inflicted by Covid. Quite simply, it was unavoidable.

“Kate was by his side in intensive care in Mexico and worked with Derek’s UK consultants who oversaw his treatment and his return, which was a military operation.

“Under his UK doctor’s guidance, he was flown home by medevac — a specialist and extremely costly, air ambulance — to be put in intensive care at a London hospital.

“This in itself was a huge undertaking and ordeal.

“Unfortunately, despite the doctors in Mexico getting his heart beating stably again, Covid damage meant further complications ultimately affected his chance of recovery.”

Garraway and her and Draper's children spent Christmas with him in a London hospital before his death this week.

Kate Garraway's husband, Derek Draper, dies aged 56

The GMB presenter revealed on Instagram on Friday (January 5) that her husband had died aged 56.

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A post shared by Kate Garraway (@kategarraway)

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."

Former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair and media personality Carol Vorderman were among those to pay tribute to Draper.

Garraway is set to take a leave of absence from her presenting roles following the death of her husband.