Kate Garraway shares thanks to Virgin Atlantic staff for helping her through an ’emotional’ flight amid her father’s hospital recovery

Kate Garraway took to Instagram on Saturday to share her appreciation and thanks to Virgin Atlantic for their support during her father’s illness.

The Good Morning Britain presenter had planned a special party for Billy’s 15th birthday this week, but after Kate’s father was rushed to hospital two weeks ago, she had to make some last-minute changes.

The 57-year-old is keeping her birthday plans under wraps, but did post a message on Instagram with a shout-out to Wendy from Virgin Atlantic for her support with the hashtag ‘#tea&sympathy’.

The post shows Wendy pouring Kate a cup of tea in the airport lounge, with the pair beaming as they take a selfie together.

Kate shared the photos with a touching caption, saying: ‘Thank you so much to the wonderful group – and Wendy – for helping to give my son Bill a fantastic birthday.

‘With everything that happened to my own father, a lot had to be cancelled of course. I wanted to be with him and my mother and I was afraid that I would disappoint Bill again and that I would not be able to carry out any of our summer plans.

‘But that’s thanks to the incredible logistical brains of the Virgin team – and a flight plan that resembled a spider web!!!

‘I’ve managed to keep things going and have some fun along the way.’

The mother of two continued to express her gratitude to the team for their understanding: ‘But most of all I want to thank you very much simply because you “get it” and know that the specialness of the journey is just as important as the destination.

“Your kindness made an emotional flight so special.”

Two weeks ago, after missing her usual appearances on Good Morning Britain or Smooth Radio, Kate revealed that her father had fainted and suffered a suspected stroke or heart attack.

Kate travelled to the south west to stay with family in Cornwall.

A source said at the time The sun: ‘It is very sad that Kate’s father fainted earlier this week while she was staying in Cornwall with her mother and brother.

“It was incredibly frightening when he was found unconscious and rushed to hospital. It looks like he may have suffered a stroke and possibly a heart attack – doctors are still testing.”

On Wednesday, Kate broke her silence on social media to explain the situation.

Kate shared her “very terrifying” experience on Instagram, in which she said her father, 89, fainted while on holiday with her mother.

She also praised her colleagues Ranvir Singh, Charlotte Hawkins, Tina Hobley and Myleene Klass for beating her to the morning shows.

She said, ‘Hi everyone, sorry I disappeared from here when my dad fainted 2 weeks ago and had to be rushed to the hospital. I was on vacation with my mom at my brother’s.

“It was very scary, but I’m so happy that he is now stable and even recovering a little bit in the hospital. We have so much to be thankful for, but we’re taking it day by day.”

‘A huge thank you to the incredible NHS staff for their endless kindness and heart they put into caring for all their patients. It has meant so much to my mum and the rest of our family.

‘I also want to say a huge thank you to my amazing friends @itv and @smoothradio especially @ranvirtv @charlottehawkins1 @tinahobleyofficial @myleeneklass who once again adjusted their plans to allow me to put my family first.

‘Luckily I had also booked a few weeks leave so I could support my mum and brother and be with my dad, whilst also giving Darcey and Billy some summer fun during their school holidays, which they obviously desperately need.

‘Hope to be back on @gmb and @smoothradio on Monday so I can give more updates. But for now I’m sending you all my love #love #hope #friendshipday’

Kate returns as a presenter on GMB and Smooth Radio next week.

It has been a difficult year for Kate after her husband Derek Draper passed away in January, almost four years after being struck down with Covid.

Derek was diagnosed with one of the worst cases of Covid in the UK, with the virus attacking every organ in his body.

Former Labour insider and psychotherapist Derek married Kate in 2005 and they had children, Darcey (17) and Billy (14).

In 2021, just over a year after contracting Covid, he was able to leave hospital and return to his family home in north London, where he received 24-hour care.

In August 2022, he was taken to hospital with sepsis, but survived. In early December 2023, Derek suffered a heart attack and was taken to hospital again.

Sadly, he was unable to overcome the final medical emergency and on January 5, Kate confirmed that Derek had passed away.