'An inspiration': Captain Sir Tom Moore dies of coronavirus

Captain Sir Tom Moore, one of the faces of Britain’s fight against coronavirus, has died at the age of 100.

The World War II veteran raised close to $60 million for healthcare services during the pandemic by walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday.

It was announced earlier this week Captain Sir Tom had contracted the virus after battling pneumonia.

Tributes pour in for ‘a real British hero’

There has been a wave of tributes paid to the heroic fundraiser since news broke of his death.

"I think what people saw in him was someone who put others above himself, and I think that's the spirit that we need,” Opposition Leader Sir Keir Starmer said.

"Above all else he was an inspiration - and we've lost a real British hero today - and that's tragic and a great sadness, and all thoughts are obviously with his family."

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said in a statement Capt Sir Tom was “the very best of us”.

Former prime minister David Cameron called him “an inspiration”.

There was a plethora of tributes from the sporting world, led by former England soccer captain David Beckham.

“When our country and our world was struggling you gave us hope, put a smile on our faces and made us believe that tomorrow would be a good day. Rest in Peace Sir Tom,” he wrote on Instagram.

His two daughters, Hannah Ingham Moore and Lucy Teixeira, confirmed his death in a statement on Tuesday afternoon (local time).

"It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our dear father, Captain Sir Tom Moore," they said.

The Union flag at 10 Downing Street has been flown at half mast in his honour. The London Eye has also been lit up red, white and blue.

Sunny attitude during bleak pandemic inspired millions

Capt Sir Tom, as he became known in newspaper headlines and TV interviews, set out to raise 1000 pounds for the NHS by walking 100 laps but his quest went viral and caught the imagination of millions stuck at home during the first wave of the pandemic.

Donations poured in from across the UK and as far away as the US, Australia and Japan.

For three weeks in April, fans were greeted with daily videos of Moore, stooped with age, doggedly pushing his walker in the garden.

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But it was his sunny attitude during a dark moment that 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 became his trademark.

He was knighted by the Queen in July.

Capt Sir Tom had tested positive for Covid-19 on January 22 and was fighting pneumonia.

Over the last five years, Moore had been receiving treatment for prostate and skin cancer, his family said.

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