Captain Sir Tom in hospital with Covid

The 100-year-old charity fundraiser was taken to Bedford Hospital yesterday, after being treated for pneumonia for some time and testing positive for Covid-19 last week.

In a statement posted on the veteran’s Twitter page, his family said: “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.

“The medical care he has received in the last few weeks has been remarkable and we know that the wonderful staff at Bedford Hospital will do all they can to make him comfortable and hopefully return home as soon as possible.

“We understand that everyone will be wishing him well.

“We are of course focusing on my father and will update you when we are able to.”

Capt Sir Tom’s fundraising efforts raised more than £32 million for the NHS, walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday during the first national lockdown in April. The veteran set out to raise £1,000 from his lockdown charity challenge but his efforts struck a chord with the nation, and praise and donations flooded in.

In acknowledgement of his efforts, he was knighted by the Queen during a unique open-air ceremony at Windsor Castle in summer 2020.