Kate Garraway reveals Derek Draper was hospitalised with sepsis as she returns to GMB after husband was ‘fighting for his life’ in intensive care
Kate Garraway‘s husband was rushed to hospital with ‘life-threatening sepsis’.
The 55-year-old presenter returned to Good Morning Britain on Monday after taking time off when the health of Derek Draper – who has suffered a string of medical issues since contracting Covid in 2020 – declined.
Addressing the incident on her first show back, Kate revealed Derek had developed a kidney infection that caused dangerous complications.
Hospitalised: Kate Garraway reveals Derek Draper was hospitalised with sepsis as she returns to GMB after husband was ‘fighting for his life’ in intensive care
Kate explained Derek had been in and out of hospital but for nothing major medically until 9 July when she was on air.
She said: ‘I got a phone call from the person who was looking after him saying, ‘Right, we’re really worried’. I whizzed home and it just sort of went boom from there.
‘We called an ambulance, went to A and E, where they said he had very severe sepsis, life-threatening sepsis. So it was really dramatic.’
After praising the efforts of medical staff, Kate explained they needed to quickly find the source of infection and get Derek onto the right antibiotics.
Concern: Kate returned to social media on Sunday to reveal husband Derek had been ‘fighting for his life’ after taking an ‘unexpected and frightening’ turn for the worst
She continued: ‘His blood pressure was so low.
‘A really junior doctor said, ‘What did you think it might be?’ He knew it wasn’t Covid-19 because we tested before we left the hospital on the Thursday.
She continued: ‘I said, ‘Well I did wonder if it was a urine infection, but weirdly we couldn’t get anything for a sample.’ And they just went, ‘Kidneys’.’
‘Unfortunately, his kidneys were really badly infected, blocked. The challenge now is to save them. So that’s where we’ve been for the last three weeks.’
Kate confirmed her husband is still in hospital ‘waiting for his next procedure’ but is no longer on an intensive care ward.
She said: ‘One kidney is looking really good, just need to look at the other one. Still in high dependency.’
The presenter took a leave of absence from GMB order to be by her ailing husband’s side following his hospitalisation three weeks ago.
Addressing the issue for the first time she wrote in an Instagram post: ‘Thank you so so much for all your messages of support – they really do mean the world to me & the whole family.
‘I have taken some time off @gmb @smoothradio & in the last 3 weeks as Derek’s health took an unexpected & frightening turn for the worse that landed him back in intensive care & fighting for his life – again.’
She added: ‘Thanks to the amazing nhs teams & his own extraordinary life force & spirit Derek – please god – is back on the right side of it now and Im so looking forward to seeing you all back on @gmb from 6 a.m tomorrow & @smoothradio from 6 a.m tomorrow & – hopefully celebrating @lionesses #worldcup win! Love & see you in the morning!’
She accompanied her message with a photo of herself, Derek and the couple’s two children, Darcy 16, and William, 12.
Sources close to Kate told the Daily Mail that the mother of two ‘has a lot on caring for him’, and has decided to step back from her TV and radio roles following his admittance to hospital in July.
She revealed at the time that Derek was back in hospital after suffering a ‘downturn’, but added she was ‘keeping her fingers crossed’ that his health could improve, two years after contracting Covid.
Earlier this month Kate admitted she was taking things ‘day by day’ after Derek was re-admitted to hospital, telling The Sun: ‘He’s been in hospital a couple of months now. He’s been coming in and out.
‘Hopefully he’ll come out again. Hopefully tonight. I’m crossing my fingers. I’m really tired but I take it day by day to level out the ups and downs.’
On July 6 Kate revealed that Derek, who has required round-the-clock care since he contracted coronavirus in March 2020, had returned to a medical facility, insisting he was ‘OK’.
Last month Kate admitted she was feeling ‘exhausted and fretful’ as Derek continued to go in and out of hospital.
In May, she also missed a week of hosting Good Morning Britain following ‘urgent’ issues at home.
Derek returned home from hospital in April 2021 after a year-long battle and still requires round-the-clock care in the midst of his lengthy recovery.
