Captain Tom, 100, has virus but inspired his nation

AFP

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was among a host of well-wishers from across Britain and beyond willing record-breaking fundraiser Captain Tom Moore to pull through after the centenarian was admitted to hospital with COVID-19.

Moore, who raised more than 30 million pounds (US$41 million) by walking 100 lengths of his garden during last year’s lockdown, was admitted to Bedford hospital after testing positive for the virus, his daughter said on Sunday.

“You’ve inspired the whole nation, and I know we are all wishing you a full recovery,” Johnson said on Twitter, adding his thoughts were with Moore and his family.

The World War II veteran caught the public’s imagination in April, just before his 100th birthday, when he was filmed doing his sponsored walk with the help of a walking frame around his garden in the village of Marston Moretaine, 80 kilometers north of London.

He hoped to raise 1,000 pounds. Instead, he raised some 33 million pounds for the National Health Service, broke two Guinness World Records, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, scored a No. 1 single, wrote an autobiography and helped set up a charity.

“Pray for Tom,” the Sun tabloid’s front page said, a message echoed by other papers who also carried prominent pictures about Moore.

Moore went on vacation with his family to Barbados in December but his daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, said that over the last few weeks he had been treated for pneumonia, and last week tested positive for COVID-19.

“He was at home with us until today when he needed additional help with his breathing. He is being treated in a ward, although he is not in ICU (intensive care unit),” she said on Twitter.

Britain is currently vaccinating all its elderly population against the coronavirus, a family representative said Moore had not yet received a shot because he was being treated for pneumonia.