Captain Tom Moore, a World War II veteran who entered the hearts of a stranded nation as he walked up and down his garden to raise money for health workers, died after testing positive for COVID-19. He was 100 years old.
His family announced Moore’s death Tuesday in a tweet with his photo. Two days earlier, the family posted a statement saying he was hospitalized with pneumonia and tested positive for coronavirus.
Captain Tom, as he became known in newspaper headlines and TV interviews, set out to raise £ 1,000 (about $ 1,300) for the UK National Health Service, touring 100 laps in his backyard. But his search went viral and caught the imagination of millions of people stranded at home during the first wave of the pandemic. Donations spilled across the UK to the United States and Japan, raising about £ 33 million (over $ 40 million).
“It’s a lot of dollars – isn’t it,” Moore told CBS News’ foreign correspondent Charlie D’Agata.
DYLAN MARTINEZ / REUTERS
After finishing his career, Moore also took part in a charity single, “You Will Never Go Alone” and became the oldest British artist no.
“I was absolutely amazed, I have to say. He brought a smile to my face, because I thought, ‘Oh dear, look at all the musical people who were pushed from the top slot around the world. “, he said.
Moore was honored with a knight by Queen Elizabeth in July. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called it “a real national treasure.”
For three weeks in April, fans were greeted daily videos of Captain Tom, inclined with age, pushing his obstacle into the garden with difficulty. But his sunny attitude during a dark moment inspired people to look beyond illness and loss.
“Please always remember, tomorrow will be a good day,” Moore said in an interview during his walk, uttering the words that have become his trademark.