Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper awakes from coma

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief | 22d

Kate Garraway reveals that her husband Derek Draper has opened his eyes after three months in a coma suffering from coronavirus.

Good Morning Britain host Kate Garraway has revealed that her husband Derek Draper has woken up after three months in a coma.

The 52-year-old was admitted to intensive care at the start of April after contracting coronavirus and was placed in a medically-induced coma to help him get through the worst stages of the disease.

Although he is now free of COVID-19, Draper has suffered significant damage to his body and faces a long road to recovery.

Speaking to Hello! magazine, Garraway said that her husband has now started to come round from the coma and is in "a minimum state of consciousness".

"We're keeping positive and doing everything we can to bring him round. The children and I communicate with him every day on FaceTime, while a nurse holds his iPad," she said.

"I really believe he can hear. When medical staff say, 'Good morning, Derek!', he sometimes opens his eyes. We and the doctors are doing everything we can so that he can start to recover."

Garraway has been off GMB during her husband's illness but has now decided to return to work in the coming weeks in order to try to get back into a routine for her and her children.

"I have been living at the end of the phone 24/7, waiting for news of Derek," she added. "But the doctors have warned that his condition could persist for years so I have to get on with life whilst we are waiting for him to get better.

"Billy starts secondary school in September, but Derek's doctors say he won't be out of hospital by then."

Before the coronavirus lockdown began, Garraway fronted Friday's edition of the ITV breakfast show and also presented a daily show on Smooth Radio.