He had become a hero after raising a record sum for British caregivers during the first lockdown. Veteran Tom Moore died Tuesday, February 2, at the age of 100, after being diagnosed positive for Covid-19, his family announced.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our dear father,” Captain “Tom Moore”, a World War II veteran, his daughters Hannah and Lucie said in a statement, telling themselves “Grateful to have been by her side during the last hours of her life”. They also greeted “The remarkable last year” of his life.
Then 99 years old, Tom Moore had set a modest goal of raising 1,000 pounds (1,100 euros) during the first confinement to help the public health service (NHS) overwhelmed by Covid-19 patients, s’ committing to travel before his hundredth birthday a hundred lengths of his garden, in the south of England.
Royal condolences
Small bubble of lightness in the middle of a gloomy year, the image of the veteran leaning over his walker and advancing at all costs had galvanized the British and their feeling of gratitude towards caregivers. Donations had then flowed in and Tom Moore had, in the end, raised 33 million pounds (37 million euros), the largest amount ever raised by a single person during a charity walk. “The last year of our father’s life has been nothing short of remarkable. He rejuvenated and experienced things he had never dreamed of », added his daughters.
His feat raised him to the rank of celebrity, Queen Elizabeth even coming out of confinement to knight him, during a ceremony at Windsor Castle. “The hearts of the Queen and the Royal Family are with the family of Captain Tom Moore”, to whom she will send a private message of condolences, Buckingham Palace said on Tuesday.
The British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson greeted him “A hero in the truest sense of the word” and “A glimmer of hope in the world”. The flag in front of his residence at 10 Downing Street has been half-masted. Foreign Minister Dominic Raab said to himself “Deeply saddened by the news” of his death. “He was an extraordinary man who inspired and boosted the morale of the whole nation”, he said in a tweet. “This is incredibly sad news. The UK has just lost a hero ”, hailed Labor opposition leader Keir Starmer, saluting a personality who “Put others first in the midst of a national crisis, becoming a beacon of hope for millions of people”.
