Ben Shephard, 45, has shared a video thanking fans for all their messages following his emotional interview with Kate Garraway, 53, on Friday morning.
The GMB presenter took to his Instagram in the evening where he called his close friend, and colleague, a ‘remarkable’ women.
It was the first time Kate has spoken about her comatose husband Derek’s devastating battle with coronavirus.
Thankful: Ben Shephard, 45, has shared a video thanking fans for all their messages following his emotional interview with Kate Garraway, 53, on Friday morning
Derek, 52, was admitted to hospital on March 30, after struggling to breathe and has remained in ICU for the past 10 weeks. Kate and their children Billy, 10, and Darcey, 14, also experienced mild coronavirus symptoms.
Ben recorded the video while out on a country walk, he penned the caption: ‘Evening all – just wanted to say thanks for all the lovely messages about our interview with Kate Garraway this morning, she was incredible, and as tough as it was, your messages are gratefully received. You really are a lovely lot.’
Ben began the video by thanking fans to take time to send in messages following the emotional interview.
‘Remarkable’: The GMB presenter took to his Instagram in the evening and shared a video message calling his close friend a colleague a ‘remarkable’ women
Speaking of Kate’s strength, the television personality said: ‘She’s just remarkable.
‘And for her to speak with such eloquence and honesty and positivity in the face of truly horrific circumstances for her and her family is testament to what an incredible person she is.
‘I know what a difference the messages you’re sending and what great source of support they are for her and Billy and Darcey.’
Following her TV interview, Kate spoke with The Sun and revealed her husband could be trapped in a coma forever, with doctors warning her to prepare for the ‘second worst case scenario.’
Emotional: Ben recorded the video while out on a country walk, he penned the caption: ‘Evening all – just wanted to say thanks for all the lovely messages about our interview with Kate Garraway’
She said she received a ‘terrible phone call’ two weeks ago from a senior doctor in the intensive care unit.
The presenter explained: ‘My first question, the one I always ask when the hospital call, was, ‘Is Derek still alive?’ and he said he was, but then asked me what my greatest fear was.
‘I said, “Derek dying” and he replied, “Well, now I think I have to give you a second worst case scenario, which is that he never changes from this, that he is locked in this forever”.
Heartbreaking: It was the first time Kate has spoken about her husband Derek’s devastating battle with coronavirus in which he is still fighting for his life
‘He said, “I’m not telling you this to scare you. It’s because we don’t know if he can recover. We’ll only know over the coming weeks and months”, I threw up, there and then.’
Kate said she never imagined she would be told her husband may be trapped in a comatose permanently.
The Good Morning Britain host described it as the ‘second level of loss’, saying even if he doesn’t die, if he doesn’t wake up she will have lost him anyway.
Ben said: ‘For her to speak with such eloquence and honesty and positivity in the face of truly horrific circumstances for her and her family is testament to what an incredible person she is’
The mother-of-two went on to explain how the virus has wreaked havoc with Derek’s body.
She told how the illness ‘attacked everything’ before heartbreakingly admitting; ‘we don’t know if he can recover’.
The former lobbyist is now covid-free but is suffering from serious complications.
Devastating: Derek, 52, was admitted to hospital on March 30, after struggling to breathe. The couple have been married for 14 years (pictured in 2008)