GRIEF ON AIR Emotional moment Derek Draper’s close friend has to break the news of his death live on TV

Derek Draper's close friend Ian King was forced to break the news of his death in a live TV broadcast today.

Derek's widow Kate Garraway was behind the Sky News anchor desk when he announced his death on social media.

In a breaking bulletin, Ian remained calm and said: "I'm afraid this is very sad news. Derek Draper, television presenter and husband of journalist Kate Garraway and certainly a well-known figure in British politics of the last 25 years, has died."

He added, "I was at university with Derek more than 30 years ago, I considered him a very good friend. My condolences to the family."

Kate wrote about losing Derek and his final moments in an emotional statement.

He is understood to have died in a north London hospital on Wednesday.

"I am sad to tell you all that my beloved husband Derek has passed away," she wrote on Instagram.

It comes like this...

• Derek's last photo shows him with the GMB presenter as he receives his MBE
• Kate reveals she held her husband's hand as he died
• Kate's co-stars including Susannah Reid pay tribute to father-of-two
• Derek's health problems revealed after heart attack before Christmas
• “As some of you may know he became seriously ill following a cardiac arrest in early December, which led to further complications due to the damage caused by Covid in March 2020.

“Derek lived his last days surrounded by his family and I was there for the last long moments and holding his hand as he passed.

"I have much more to say, and of course I will in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and make his last moments comfortable and dignified . possible.

"So much love and thanks to all of you who have so generously given so much support to our family. Now rest easy and in peace Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life."

Led by Kate's celebrity friends, there have been an outpouring of tributes to Derek.

His Good Morning Britain co-star Susanna Reid said: "Our whole hearts go out to you all."

Sir Elton John wrote: "So sad to hear this news, Kate. Love and all the best to you and your family."

While This Morning's Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary shared their support for Kate shortly after the announcement was made.

Alison said: "We just want to say this morning we're all sending our love to you Kate and of course [Kate and Derek's children] Darcey and Billy."

Derek suffered devastating health problems after contracting the virus at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.

After contracting the virus, he was put into a coma and put on a ventilator.

Derek later became the country's longest-suffering Covid patient after spending 13 months in hospital.

Since being discharged in 2021, Derek has been readmitted to the hospital several times.

He was diagnosed with "life-threatening" sepsis and kidney infection, which Kate later described as "dramatic but under control".

Since being discharged in 2021, Derek has been readmitted to the hospital several times.

He was diagnosed with "life-threatening" sepsis and kidney infection, which Kate later described as "dramatic but under control".