Piers Morgan has said that Kate Garraway's husband may never come out of his coma.
The 55-year-old host made the sad admission today on Good Morning Britain after speaking to vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi, who revealed his uncle died of Covid-19 last week.
Kate's husband Derek Draper, 53, was admitted to hospital early last year after contracting the virus and put into an induced coma.
He shocked hospital staff in October by speaking for the first time - whispering that he was in pain - but he remains in a form of coma called a PDOC (Prolonged Disorder of Consciousness), which means that he is generally unresponsive.
Following Piers and Susanna's interview with MP Zahawi, Piers said: "Very sorry to Nadhim and his family. It's horrible. I know people that have lost parents, who have lost uncles, who've lost family members and it's devastating.
"When I see these Covid deniers and down players, the ones that want to constantly talk it all down, say 'it's just another flu'. Ask around now.
"We know from our colleague Kate Garraway, whose husband Derek is still in a coma from Covid - he may never come out of that coma! She's been told this and it's heartbreaking. It's hit right here on our show."
Earlier, MP Zahawi opened up about his own experience of loss from Covid.
"I lost my uncle to Covid last week," he said. "It is grim and horrible but our way out of this is the vaccination programme. It makes me angry but it makes me determined to make sure that we vaccinate the most vulnerable people out there.
"Protect them as quickly as possible and then protect the whole nation. That is our way out of this and that is what we will ultimately do. I promise you, I will make sure that happens."
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Stunned, Piers said: 'We're so sorry to hear that about your uncle. Can I just ask, did he have a vaccine? Was he entitled to one?
The MP explained: "No, he was entitled to one but sadly he got Covid before he got the vaccine. But obviously you have to wait 28 days for someone to recover before you can vaccinate them and he didn't make it."
Piers responded: "For you as the vaccine minister to have an uncle who simply didn't get the vaccine in time to protect him, that is heartbreaking and that shows to everybody how important it is. If you get that call, get down there faster than a greyhound.
"I'm really sorry to hear that and thank you for sharing that information with us because I think it is powerful to remind people of the terrible cost of this virus."
*Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV
