Kate Garraway hails nurses who fought for Derek’s life at Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards

KATE Garraway has told how nurses fought for her husband Derek Draper in his darkest hours.

Speaking backstage at our awards – sponsored by the National Lottery – the emotional GMB presenter said they “poured love” into his care when he was in a coma with Covid.


Kate Garraway hails nurses who fought for Derek’s life at Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards
Kate Garraway has told how nurses fought for her husband Derek Draper in his darkest hours

Kate Garraway hails nurses who fought for Derek’s life at Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards
Speaking backstage Kate said they ‘poured love’ into her husband Derek’s care when he was in a coma with Covid

Derek, 53, has faced one of the longest battles with the virus since contracting it in March 2020.

After handing the Best Nurse Award to bereavement specialist Jackie Brunton, Kate said: “Nurses have been extraordinary throughout the pandemic.

“When Derek was emerging from his coma it was the nurses that were very much part of that.”

Kate, 54, presented the award to Jackie, whose daughter ­Jessica, ten, joined her on stage in tears.

Jackie, 45, from Preston, Lancs, dedicated the award to all the families of those on the frontline who have missed their loved ones throughout the pandemic.

She was nominated by Susan Ayrton whose dad Neville, 73, was hospitalised with Covid in March 2020.

When she was told she couldn’t visit him in hospital, Jackie grabbed her iPhone so she could have a final FaceTime before they turned off his life support.

Jackie then spearheaded a communication system, with iPads on every ward so families could stay in touch.

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Kate Garraway hails nurses who fought for Derek’s life at Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards
Kate said: ‘When Derek was emerging from his coma it was the nurses that were very much part of that’
Kate Garraway hails nurses who fought for Derek’s life at Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards
Kate presented the Best Nurse Award to bereavement specialist Jackie Brunton, pictured with daughter Jessica
Kate Garraway hails nurses who fought for Derek’s life at Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards
Derek has faced one of the longest battles with the virus since contracting it in March 2020
Kate Garraway hails nurses who fought for Derek’s life at Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards
Kate said: ‘Nurses have been extraordinary throughout the pandemic’