Captain Sir Tom Moore, a British WWII veteran who raised almost £33 million ($45 million) for Britain’s National Health Service on the frontline in the battle against COVID-19 during the nation’s lockdown last year by charity walk, has died.
The 100-year-old, who raised £38.9m for the National Health Service (NHS), was taken to Bedford Hospital after requiring help with his breathing on Sunday.
His daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore said he had been treated for pneumonia over the past few weeks and last week tested positive for COVID-19.
In a statement announcing his death on Tuesday, February 2, Capt Sir Tom’s daughters Mrs Ingram-Moore and Lucy Teixeira said;
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.
He had not been vaccinated against COVID-19 due to the other medication he was taking.
The Army veteran, originally from Keighley in West Yorkshire, won the nation’s hearts by walking 100 laps of his garden in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, before his 100th birthday during the country’s first national lockdown in April, 2020.
His endeavour spread joy amid the grim news of the coronavirus outbreak and donations gotten were donated to NHS. He was thereafter knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in July.
The indomitable spirit he embodied inspired the nation, and he went on to break two Guinness World Records – becoming the oldest person to get a No 1 single in the UK charts and raising the most money for doing his solo charity walk.
Raised in Yorkshire, northern England, Moore served in India, Burma and Sumatra during WWII.
May his soul Rest In Peace.
