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Sophie Doughty

Kate Garraway gives update on husband Derek's health and said he is in 'terrible state'

Kate Garraway has described her husband Derek Draper as being in a "terrible state" after becoming the worst affected living Covid patient in the UK.

Appearing on Piers Morgan's last ever Life Stories, the presenter describes how contracting Covid at the beginning of 2020 has "devastated" him and that he has been affected "from the top of his head to the tip of his toe".

She reveals that, despite returning home, Derek is still unable to fully communicate and has issues with mobility.

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Kate - who is mum to 15-year-old Darcey and 12-year-old Bill, said: "It does feel as though I walked through a fiery furnace or fell down a rabbit hole. The world went dark and still looking for the light at the end of the tunnel, really."

Kate Garraway on Piers Morgan's Life Stories (ITV) (ITV)

"Derek is thought to be the worst affected living Covid patient in the United Kingdom," Piers points out. "He spent 13 months in hospital - the longest stay of anyone who survived the disease. What has Covid done to your husband?"

"It's devastated him," she says. "From the top of his head to the tip of his toe. His digestive system, his liver, his kidneys, his heart, his nervous system. We're pretty sure that the inflammation did pass through the brain.

Piers Morgan and Kate Garraway (Piers Morgan/Instagram)

"He still can't communicate, he still has issues with mobility. Fundamentally, he's in a terrible state. Look, he's alive, Piers."

However, Piers also reveals a conversation he had the night before with Derek that left him stunned.

He said: "We had a moment last night when I rang you about this interview. Without warning, you said to me, 'Why don't you talk to Derek?' and Derek replied when you said it was me, very loud, clear, 'Hello.'

Kate Garraway shares a picture of husband Derek Draper in hospital for ITV documentary Finding Derek (ITV)

"And I said a few things to him and at the end he said, 'Thank you'. I was stunned."

"Well, so were we," Kate replies. "The carers that were with me at the time burst into tears. I mean, I don't want to suggest you're a healer Piers but it was a remarkable moment. It's moments like that that make you realise that he is in there.

"And we've had others - he will turn to me and say, 'I love you.'"

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