Derek Draper's heartbreaking final request to kids who are staying 'strong' for Kate Garraway

Kate Garraway first discovered her late husband's Derek Draper's serious health condition when she returned home to find him in a state of agony during the Covid19 pandemic in March 2020.

Derek, who has sadly passed away aged 56, suffered a brave and lengthy battle due to the long-term complications from coronavirus which left him fighting for his life.When he first fell ill with the virus almost four years ago, a terrified Kate called an ambulance and helped Derek down the stairs as he struggled to breathe.While sitting in the ambulance with an oxygen mask, Derek spoke to his kids for the final time and made a heartbreaking request before he was rushed to hospital, the Mirror reports.Despite going through a horrifying ordeal, Derek still managed to deliver some tear-jerking final words to his beloved children, Darcey, 17, and Billy, 13 as he told them: "You're the best children anyone could ask for.

Look after mum, be good for her." At the time Derek did not know that this would be the last time he would see his children again before going into a coma.In a heartbreaking statement released on January 5, Kate announced that Derek had sadly lost his health battle and died aged 56.A statement from Garraway on Instagram said: “I’m sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away."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. Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. "Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours