This is the last picture taken of Kate Garraway before her husband Derek Draper died aged 56 after suffering a heart attack before Christmas.

The presenter, 56, was seen on December 30 leaving a north London Tesco in a Santa hat with several bags of food after cancelling all of her TV work commitments to be at Derek’s hospital bedside in his final days.

The Good Morning Britain host, who announced the passing of her husband on Instagram this morning, looked exhausted but seemed to be embracing the festivities despite her heartache at the time.

Derek had been plagued with health woes after contracting Covid in 2020 and suffered a cardiac arrest in early December, with Kate spending Christmas at hospital. MailOnline understands he passed away on Wednesday night.

Kate announced his death today in a post on Instagram saying: ‘I’m sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away.

Kate Garraway has been seen for the first time since her husband Derek Draper was left fighting for his life as he suffered a heart attack

Kate was pictured leaving a north London Tesco in a Santa hat with several bags of food

Derek, 56, who has been plagued with health woes after contracting Covid in 2020, has today died at the age of 56 (pictured in June with Kate’s parents Gordon and Marilyn)

‘As some of you may know he has been critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December which, because of the damage inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications.

‘Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed. I have so much more to say, and of course I will do so in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible.

‘Sending so much love and thanks to all of you who have so generously given our family so much support. Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life.’

Derek, who was a former researcher for Blairite Peter Mandelson, had two children with Kate – Darcey, 17, and Billy, 14.

Former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown led tributes today.

Mr Brown tweeted: ‘So sad that after such a brave struggle Derek Draper has lost his life as a result of Covid. I will remember him as brilliant, creative and multitalented, and our thoughts are with Kate, Darcey and Billy. RIP Derek’.

Sir Tony Blair said: ‘I am so sad to hear the news about Derek. My heart goes out to Kate and their children William and Darcey.

‘It is extraordinary and remarkable that Derek survived so long after the ravages of Covid. And that was in large measure due to the love Derek had for his family and they for him. This also says something very special about Derek.

‘He was a tough sometimes ruthless political operative, a brilliant adviser and someone you always wanted on your side.

‘But underneath that tough exterior he was a loving, kind, generous and good natured man you wanted as a friend.
‘He was an important part of the New Labour story, at the centre of things right at the beginning. But most important of all, he was a good colleague and great friend. And we will miss him deeply.’

Kate revealed she was holding her husband’s hand when she died

Kate and Derek at the National Television Awards in 2007

Derek Draper had two children with Garraway – a son, William, and a daughter, Darcey. Couple pictured here with their daughter, son and Derek’s mother in 2009

Derek Draper (circled) is seen standing next to Labour grandees including Neil Kinnock, John Prescott and Peter Mandelson (right). The footage was in BBC2’s The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty

It was revealed last week that Derek suffered a heart attack, which left him in critical condition, fighting for his life.

A source told The Mirror: ‘Derek suffered a massive heart attack which has left him fighting for his life all over again. It was sudden and a shock as he had been doing well and was in great spirits, looking forward to Christmas at home with the family.

‘We just hope there will be some more positive news soon as he has been in such a long and tough battle with his health. Kate’s only focus right now is Derek and her family.

Following the news about Derek’s ill health, Kate’s Good Morning Britain co-stars sent an emotional message of support.

Charlotte Hawkins told viewers: ‘We wanted to start with an update. You have seen that Derek, Kate’s husband, is sadly very poorly at the moment.

‘We want to let Derek, Kate and the whole family know we are thinking of them, and that we’re sending them our very best wishes’.

Richard Madeley added: ‘It is a very difficult time’, as Charlotte agreed: ‘Extremely difficult. Lots of love.’

Following the news fans rushed to X, formerly known as Twitter, to send Derek their prayers and branded Kate ‘amazing and strong’ for her continued resilience.

One person wrote: ‘Kate so sorry to read about Derek. Keep strong and keep believing he will pull through. He is a fighter! Sending love!’

The heartbreaking turn of events came after it was reported Derek was ‘in great spirits’ and looking forward to Christmas with his family.

A source told The Sun at the time: ‘It was sudden and a shock as he had been doing so well and was in great spirits, looking forward to Christmas at home with the family.

‘This setback has been a huge blow for his family and all the people caring for him.

‘Kate has been utterly incredible — by his side while being an amazing mum to Darcey and Billy, and trying to manage their expectations of a family Christmas.’

Derek was a former researcher for Blairite Peter Mandelson who became a New Labour spin doctor and later retrained as a psychotherapist after a series of political scandals.

Tragically he was among the first in the UK to fall seriously ill with Covid-19 and was admitted to an intensive care unit as the country entered lockdown in March 2020. He was one of the country’s longest-suffering COVID patients after being in hospital but never fully recovered.

Doctors put him in a medically induced coma and he became the longest-suffering coronavirus patient in the UK after spending 13 months in hospital, apart from Kate and their two children.

However, he was readmitted several times with numerous health issues, including kidney failure, brain inflammation and liver damage.

Kate’s Good Morning Britain co-stars sent an emotional message of support following the news about Derek’s ill health in December last year

Derek has been in and out of hospital after he fell seriously ill with coronavirus at the very start of the pandemic in March 2020, and was left with lasting damage to his organs

Derek was catastrophically ill in hospital after becoming one of the first people to catch covid

Earlier this year, Kate revealed she was planning to take Derek to Mexico for a second bout of experimental treatment in a desperate bid to save him from the devastating effects of Covid.

Following a previously ‘gruelling’ trip to Mexico at the beginning of 2022, Kate shared her hopes at flying Derek back for an additional round of treatment.

Kate told The Sun: ‘The effort required to get him there is extraordinary, and obviously we are relying on the grace of these specialists to help him.

‘I can’t thank all those involved in getting him to Mexico enough because without them he wouldn’t have the chance of this potentially life-changing treatment.’

She added: ‘The plan is to go back for another round of treatment and continue the trial in a way that is financially viable.’

Although Kate insisted that they’d had ‘wonderful treatment’ from the NHS, which were essential in keeping her husband alive, the foreign trips offer ‘potentially life saving treatment’.

As well as the trip, the Smooth Radio presenter has had to spend ‘tens of thousands of pounds’ adapting the family home in London for Derek, which included the installation of ramps, a downstairs wet room and a makeshift downstairs bedroom.

Due to the severity of his illness and length of time spent in hospital he remains unable to walk and has developed debilitating symptoms.