NEWS
Following the tragic death of Derek Draper after a three-year battle with Covid, Kate Garraway’s close friend, broadcaster Clare Nasir, speaks to Closer after spending the weekend with the grieving family
Her remarkable strength, her bravery, her championing of the NHS and her never-ending love for her husband Derek Draper saw broadcaster Kate Garraway become an unexpected face of hope throughout the Coronavirus pandemic.
And last week, hearts across the nation broke for the Good Morning Britain star and her two children, Darcey, 17, and Billy, 12, as she announced the tragic loss of Derek at the age of 56. Telling her social media followers of her husband’s passing and thanking the NHS staff who made his final moments “as comfortable and dignified as possible”, grieving Kate, who had spent Christmas in and out of hospital, added, “Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life.”
After falling ill in March 2020, the virus ravaged Derek’s body, leaving him unable to communicate or walk unaided. It was a roller coaster for his family who – having seen him close to death – had seen glimpses of recovery following his release from hospital, before he sadly succumbed to complications from a cardiac arrest.
DEVASTATED
Now, one of Kate’s oldest and closest confidants of over two decades, presenter Clare Nasir, shares with Closer how her friend is coping after supporting Kate and the children at their family home.
Clare says, “She’s devastated, she’s broken. She’s going from moments of real reflectiveness to moments where she’s just crying, because she’s been fighting for the right for Derek to live for four years now.
“It was a heck of a long journey for her and she was with him until he died. She didn’t give up the fight until the very last moment.
“She’s exhausted. When I was with her she’d had very little sleep. She’d been at Derek’s bedside night and day while trying to care for her family. What do you do? What do you say? There’s no light for her at the moment, just grief and absolute sadness.”
And while Kate, 56, continues to endure a living nightmare following her husband’s passing, Clare says she wants to reassure fans and supporters who have kept Kate in their thoughts that she and the children are being well looked after by her closest friends during this dark time.
Clare says, “We’re tag-teaming, my friends and I are on a rota to be with her. The other weekend there was a lot of making tea and cooking. We managed to play a couple of little games with the kids to add a little light. Kate waxed and waned – it’s just so sad to see, she’s just broken.
“It’s so hard. Nobody is prepared for this situation. You don’t expect this type of trau
