London, Feb 02 (EFE) .- The centennial veteran of World War II Tom Moore, known in the United Kingdom as “Captain Tom”, who raised 33 million pounds for the British health sector by giving a hundred laps to his garden with his walker, has died of coronavirus, his family reported Tuesday.
Moore, who was awarded a “knighthood” by Queen Elizabeth II, became a national hero last April during the first national confinement.
He did so by fulfilling a charitable challenge of circling his home in the English county of Bedfordshire a hundred times, with the help of his walker, before turning 100 on April 30.
The captain was able to far exceed his initial goal of raising £ 1,000 thanks to the solidarity of millions of people in the UK who were captivated by his efforts.
The military man entered the Bedford hospital last Sunday with respiratory difficulties after having received treatment for pneumonia for a few weeks and tested positive for coronavirus last week.
In a statement released today to confirm Moore’s death, his daughters, Hannah and Lucy, were “grateful to have been able to be with him during the last hours of his life.”
“The last year of our father’s life has been outstanding. He rejuvenated and experienced things that he had only dreamed of,” they said in the note.
A spokesman for Buckingham Palace – Queen Elizabeth II’s official residence in London – pointed out that the sovereign and the royal family “accompany Captain Tom Moore and his family in sentiment” and that the monarch will send “a private message of condolence.” To his family.
“His Majesty greatly enjoyed meeting Captain Sir Tom and his family in Windsor last year. His thoughts, and those of the royal family, accompany them, acknowledging the inspiration he represented for the entire country and in other parts of the world.” the spokesperson pointed out.
In a message on Twitter, the NHS, the public health service for which the veteran raised the funds, dedicated a message to him: “Thank you for everything, Sir Tom.”
After fulfilling his challenge, Moore received the honorary title of Colonel in the Ministry of Defense and released a song along with singer Michael Ball with a cover of the classic “You’ll never walk alone”, which reached number one on the sales charts. .
His feat also inspired Russian WWII veteran Zinaída Kórnieva, 97, who blogs daily to raise money for the families of doctors killed in Russia in the battle against the pandemic.
Kórnieva dedicated a video to the British captain and promised as a birthday present to sew him “from Russia with love” some socks for the winter, which she already sent him by express mail.
Amelia Warner
Amelia Warner writes all the Latest Articles. She mostly covers Entertainment topics, but at times loves to write about movie reviews as well.
