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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Emmeline Saunders & Sophie McCoid

Piers Morgan says Kate Garraway's husband is 'fighting for his life' in intensive care

Piers Morgan has given an update on Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper.

The 52-year-old has been battling coronavirus for seven weeks now in intensive care, after contracting the virus.

Derek entered ICU on March 30 and none of his family have been allowed to visit him because of the strict hospital rules.

Kate has instead been trying to chat to an unconscious Derek through FaceTime calls, reports Mirror Online.

Piers Morgan revealed former Labour Party adviser Derek - who has been in a coma for at least three weeks - is still in the intensive care unit at his local hospital as he spoke about the emotional toll the global pandemic is taking on the population.

The GMB host told talkRADIO: "I have a cousin whose father died of coronavirus. Had another friend of mine - a TV producer who I've worked on foreign assignments - whose mum died in a care home last week.

"I've had Kate Garraway, who's the Good Morning Britain co-presenter of mine - her husband Derek Draper is fighting for his life as we speak and has been for many weeks in an ICU unit.

Kate Garraway with husband Derek Draper at the Versace hotel (Tim Merry)

"So I've been personally affected by this, by the sheer volume of friends of mine and family who have been directly impacted in the most horrific manner.

"So yeah, I do feel a personal attachment to this story. But I think most people, if they have a conscience, should."

It comes after Kate shared footage of herself FaceTiming Derek on Thursday night so he could hear the incredible Clap For Carers.

"So our #nhsclap was a little different tonight," she wrote on instagram.

"We still clapped & cheered as much as ever but I couldn't film on my phone as had Derek on FaceTime throughout! - of course we can't KNOW but I believe he can hear us & thought at least the incredible @nhs team's looking after him would hear a fraction of our gratitude."

Shortly before Derek contracted COVID-19, he and Kate were planning to renew their vows in a second wedding, planned by her teenage daughter Darcy.

He had reproposed to his wife after her I'm A Celebrity stint late last year, and told her he'd fallen in love with her all over again.

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