ITV viewers have been left in tears watching footage of Derek Draper
BREAKING down over his mobility struggles . The former political advisor, who died in January at the age of 56 , suffered from multiple health complications after contracting Covid in 2020. He was thought to have become the worst-affected known surviving person of the virus, and the final year of his life has now aired in a documentary, Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story. The programme is the last of three factual films Kate, 56, made with her late husband, with whom she shared two children with. By sharing this personal part of his health journey, the Good Morning
Britain presenter aims to raise awareness of the immense strain on carers in the
UK, and the financial burden placed on families. Kate spoke about her astronomical debts as Draper needed round-the-clock care, showing the extent of what was required. At one point, Draper was left in tears as he attempted to stand up unaided. Being held by his mobility therapist, Draper is caught on camera trying to stand from his wheelchair and lean onto a walking frame. ‘I don’t want to help you too much, I don’t want to pull you up off the seat,’ the therapist tells him, as he encourages Draper to push himself forward and only supports him by the arm. But after only his first attempt, Draper sits back into the chair and sobs, with Kate reassuring him: ‘It’s ok darling, it is ok.’ He then shouts ‘it’s pathetic’, while she reassures him: ‘It’s not pathetic, it isn’t pathetic. You are absolutely trying.’ He continues trying to stand, with Kate and the therapist’s encouragement, but is left sobbing at the difficulties he faces. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Viewers have been left heartbroken watching the scene, with @WhoPotterVian writing: ‘That’s so hard to watch, Kate Garraway’s husband calling himself pathetic because of his mobility skills. God, you really can’t imagine how much having those struggles must affect a person’s mental health.’ @Mabel_Mouse_ added: ‘This is absolutely heartbreaking.’ Others praised Kate for her bravery in sharing their story and the difficulties she faced over the years, with @jules4023 writing: ‘Hard watch @kategarraway #dereksstory ur one brave and strong lady xxx lots of love to you and the family.’ @Mabel_Mouse_ wrote: ‘#DereksStory is absolutely breaking my heart. I think #KateGarraway is doing a brilliant
Job in raising awareness about the difficulties that carers face in this country.’ @BevWalkerGordo1 echoed: ‘@kategarraway Watching #Dereksstory is absolutely heart breaking. Watching your strength is inspiring Kate. You are the most incredible human! Sending you my love.’ Bless Derek ð¢ #DereksStory Hard to watch ð #Dereksstory #KateGarraway That’s so hard to watch, Kate Garroway’s husband calling himself pathetic because of his mobility skills. God, you really can’t imagine how much having those struggles must affect a person’s mental health. #DereksStory This is absolutely heartbreaking ð #DereksStory #KateGarraway @kategarraway Watching #Dereksstory is absolutely heart breaking. Watching your strength is inspiring Kate. You are the most incredible human! ððð©· Sending you my love ð©·ð©·ð©·ð©· I take my hat off to @kategarraway . Bloody inspirational! The social care sector is a disgrace and not fit for purpose. #DereksStory #KateGarraway In another scene in the documentary, Draper is left with his carer, and is heard frustrated and sobbing before asking for Kate to return, forgetting that she was just in the other room and thinking she’d left. Emmerdale ‘confirms’ chilling outcome of Belle and Tom story in throwaway scene Axed Emmerdale legend reunites with co-star ahead of new chapter Coronation Street legend was 'genuinely scared' filming upcoming violent stunts ITV show 'axed' after failing to compete with
Strictly Come Dancing in ratings battle ‘Sometimes you can’t put together what’s going on, he’s not in pain physically, he’s not in a position whereby he’s in discomfort, but he seems not to be okay,’ the carer tells the camera as Draper can be heard shaking and weeping. ‘Today he’s in a strange place, staring at me really hard, making strange noises, scared, agitated, crossed,’ Kate later adds. ‘What’s that about? Is it him feeling frustrated? I don’t know.’ Kate has previously heartbreakingly spoken about Draper’s final moments, in which she said he was ‘trapped in his failing body’. She said on LBC: ‘I just wanted him to know I wasn’t giving up because if you are trapped as they believe he was, inside a body that was very damaged and failing, I didn’t want him to think that we were departing him, that we were giving up.’ She continued: ‘He lived on and on through situations that they didn’t think maybe he could. ‘So, I think there is a little bit of peace, but there is also a sense of unreality about it. I think that it was huge honour for me, actually.’ ‘And you can’t thank enough the people around, the nurses and doctors around, who never stopped fighting for his life but also somehow managed to hold people and one of the things I keep thinking about, it was a huge honour to be there with him through those last hours and to have that. ‘I think about all the people during Covid that didn’t have that, and I think about all the circumstances when people don’t have that. ‘Of course that’s life and things happen to people and it doesn’t mean that it’s any less if you can’t be there because you take what you are given, but I felt like it was a lovely thing to be able to do for Derek.’ Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story is available to watch on ITVX. Got a story? If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you. MORE : Kate Garraway claims £16,000-a-month cost of Derek Draper’s health care surpassed ITV salary MORE : Kate Garraway pens emotional message joining stars supporting Princess of Wales amid
cancer treatment