Captain Sir Tom Moore: 'National inspiration' dies with COVID-19

LONDON, UK

World War II veteran Captain Sir Tom Moore, famous for raising millions of pounds for the National Health Service (NHS) during the UK’s first lock-down, died on Tuesday days after testing positive for COVID-19, his family said.

Moore, who had been getting treatment for pneumonia, tested positive for COVID-19 last week and was rushed to hospital on Sunday for help with his breathing.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our dear father, Captain Sir Tom Moore,” his daughters Hannah Ingram-Moore and Lucy Teixeira said in a statement.

“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.”

They went on to describe Moore as an “incredible” father and grandfather who will remain in the hearts of many forever.

“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.”

They also praised the care Moore was given by the NHS as “extraordinary” adding that the staff gave them “many more years with him than we ever would have imagined”.

Moore raised more than £32 million for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden prior to his centennial birthday. He was knighted by the Queen in July last year.