Captain Tom Moore, the World War II veteran who entered the heart of a closed nation as he walked up and down the garden to raise money for health workers, has died after giving positive to COVID-19. He was 100 years old.
His family announced Moore’s death on Tuesday tweet with his photo. Two days earlier, the family posted one statement saying he had been admitted to the hospital with pneumonia and had tested positive for coronavirus.
Captain Tom, as reported to newspaper headlines and television interviews, set out to raise £ 1,000 (approximately $ 1,300) for Britain’s National Health Service by walking 100 laps from his garden. But his search went viral and captured the imagination of millions trapped at home during the first wave of the pandemic. Donations came from all over Britain and as far away as the United States and Japan, reaching approximately £ 33 million (more than $ 40 million).
“That’s a lot of dollars, right,” Moore told CBS News foreign correspondent Charlie D’Agata.
DYLAN MARTINEZ / REUTERS
After finishing his walk, Moore also participated in a charity single “You Never Walk Alone” and became the oldest British No. 1 artist in history.
“I was absolutely amazed, I have to say. It brought me a smile because I thought, ‘Oh, face, look at all the musical people who have been kicked out of the world’s first slot,'” he said.
Moore was honored with a cavalry by Queen Elizabeth in July. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called it “a true national treasure.”
For three weeks in April, fans received health daily videos of Captain Tom, leaning with age, stubbornly pushing his walker into the garden. But it was his sunny attitude during a dark time that inspired people to look beyond illness and loss.
“Always remember, tomorrow will be a good day,” Moore said in an interview during his walk, uttering the words that became his trademark.