Moment Dr Hilary told Kate Garraway to call ambulance as husband Derek deteriorated

Good Morning Britain's Kate Garraway sought advice from pal and co-star Dr Hilary Jones when she feared for her husband's life.

Derek Draper has been in intensive care for nearly 10 weeks and has been in a coma, after being confirmed to have coronavirus.

He remains very poorly as he battles COVID-19, with Kate and her children not able to see him.

The GMB team have updated fans regularly, as has she, on Derek's condition but also how she and her children are coping.

Now, Dr Hilary confirmed it was him who Kate called before the hospital dash as she panicked over his health and questioned calling 999.

Dr Hilary Jones advised Kate Garraway to call an ambulance for husband Derek Draper (Mirrorpix)

He'd been feeling unwell and breathless, but Hilary said his symptoms were not the normal ones.

Initially a cough and a fever were the only key symptoms people were warned to look out for.

But worried about Derek as he continued to deteriorate, she called her friend to confirm what was happening and asked whether or not to ring an ambulance.

Dr Hilary Jones spoke with Derek Draper before his hospital dash (ITV)

Hilary actually spoke to Derek the day he went into hospital, with him telling Kate to ring the ambulance after hearing how breathless he was.

He explained he tested Derek's breathing by telling him to hold his breath for as long as he could, and the results left him deeply concerned for his friend.

He told Ben Shephard and Ranvir Singh on GMB on Friday: "I had spoken to Derek and I was concerned, just by the way he was speaking and his breathlessness and I told him to do a simple test, not a diagnostic test.

Kate Garraway and her kids are unable to see Derek (Instagram)

"All I asked him to do was hold his breath and see how long he could hold it for, and it was less than 10 seconds.

"I said 'Okay look, now is the time to call an ambulance' and this was when he was admitted."

Derek has remained in hospital ever since in intensive care, still fighting the virus.

Hilary praised Kate for staying so strong, while adding why he was so concerned about Derek's breathlessness.

He said: "I have been in touch since, and she has been so strong, so supportive of the NHS, but he’s still very poorly and we send our love and support."

Hilary added: "You and I could hold our breath for over a minute, [someone of his age] should be able to last a minute I would say if you are fit and well, and 10 seconds was abnormal, and while it was not a diagnostic test anyway it was a reason to get him to hospital straight away."

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.