The 100-year-old former army officer Captain Sir Tom Moore has died with coronavirus at Bedford Hospital.
The man who raised almost £33 million for the NHS was taken to hospital as he required help with his breathing on Sunday 31st January. Moore had been admitted to hospital after having been treated for pneumonia for several weeks, and had recently tested positive for Covid-19. His daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, originally made the following statement on Twitter on Sunday.
— Captain Sir Tom Moore (@captaintommoore) January 31, 2021
Tributes have begun to flood Twitter, with public figures and celebrities paying tribute to the inspirational veteran. The Royal Family have even offered their respects.
The Queen is sending a private message of condolence to the family of Captain Sir Tom Moore.
Her Majesty very much enjoyed meeting Captain Sir Tom and his family at Windsor last year. Her thoughts and those of the Royal Family are with them. pic.twitter.com/nl1krvoUlW
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) February 2, 2021
The Army veteran, originally from Keighley in West Yorkshire, came to prominence by being sponsored to walk 100 laps of his garden in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, before his 100th birthday during the first national lockdown. He was knighted by the Queen in July, and in December enjoyed a family holiday in Barbados paid for by British Airways.
Captain Sir Tom Moore, who was also given the honorary title of Colonel on his 100th birthday, had initially set out to raise £1,000 for NHS charities by repeatedly walking an 82ft (25m) loop of his garden. He eventually raised £32,794,701 from more than 1.5 million supporters.
His family have released the following statement this afternoon:
“It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our dear father, Captain Sir Tom Moore.
“We are so grateful that we were with him during the last hours of his life; Hannah, Benjie and Georgia by his bedside and Lucy on FaceTime. We spent hours chatting to him, reminiscing about our childhood and our wonderful mother. We shared laughter and tears together.
“The last year of our father’s life was nothing short of remarkable. He was rejuvenated and experienced things he’d only ever dreamed of.
“Whilst he’d been in so many hearts for just a short time, he was an incredible father and grandfather, and he will stay alive in our hearts forever.
“The care our father received from the NHS and carers over the last few weeks and years of his life has been extraordinary. They have been unfalteringly professional, kind and compassionate and have given us many more years with him than we ever would have imagined.
“Over the past few days our father spoke a great deal about the last 12 months and how proud he felt at being able to leave behind the growing legacy of his Foundation.
“We politely ask for privacy at this time so we can grieve quietly as a family and remember the wonderful 100 years our father had.
Thank you.”
Everybody at The Point News sends their thoughts and condolences to the family of Captain Sir Tom Moore.
