On Tuesday, 1,449 Covid deaths were announced in the UK but across the length and breadth of the land, people were talking only about Captain Tom Moore, who passed away, aged 100, at Bedford Hospital, having been admitted on Sunday with symptoms of the virus.

That the end was the near for the man who inspired the nation by raising nearly £33 million by doing laps of his garden with the help of a walking aid became clear when his family were summoned to be by his bedside on Monday night.

After Moore celebrated his 100th birthday on April 30 last year, the Queen knighted him in a special investiture held just for him in the grounds of Windsor Castle in July.

On Tuesday a royal statement said: “The Queen is sending a private message of condolence to the family of Captain Sir Tom Moore. Her Majesty very much enjoyed meeting Captain Sir Tom and his family at Windsor last year. Her thoughts and those of the Royal Family are with them.”

Thousands of tributes poured in for Moore, who had spent his war years in Calcutta.

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Captain Sir Tom Moore was a hero in the truest sense of the word. In the dark days of the Second World War he fought for freedom and in the face of this country’s deepest post war crisis he united us all, he cheered us all up, and he embodied the triumph of the human spirit.

“It is quite astonishing that at the age of 100 he raised more than £32 million for the NHS, and so gave countless others their own chance to thank the extraordinary men and women who have protected us through the pandemic.

“He became not just a national inspiration but a beacon of hope for the world. Our thoughts are with his daughter Hannah and all his family.”

On Tuesday, Hannah and her sister Lucy confirmed their father had passed away. He could not be given a vaccine because he had been suffering with pneumonia since a British Airways gift of a holiday in Barbados in early December. In a statement his daughters said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our dear father, Captain Sir Tom Moore.

“We are so grateful that we were with him during the last hours of his life; Hannah, (grandchildren) Benjie and Georgia by his bedside and Lucy on FaceTime.

“We spent hours chatting to him, reminiscing about our childhood and our wonderful mother. We shared laughter and tears together.

“The last year of our father’s life was nothing short of remarkable.

“He was rejuvenated and experienced things he’d only ever dreamed of.

“Whilst he’d been in so many hearts for just a short time, he was an incredible father and grandfather, and he will stay alive in our hearts forever.”

His daughter said the care he received from the NHS was “extraordinary”. They said staff has been “unfalteringly professional, kind and compassionate and have given us many more years with him than we ever would have imagined”.

In the Commons, the news was broken to MPs by deputy speaker Nigel Evans: “He brought joy to the nation, he was an inspiration to everybody in this country.”

Boris Johnson’s girlfriend Carrie Symonds said: “Just amazing to think what he achieved in his 100th year of life. Thank you for inspiring us all.”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who is MP for Richmond in Yorkshire, the county from which Moore hailed, said: “A proud Yorkshire man. A dedicated Army Officer. A tireless fundraiser. And above all, an inspiration to us all. Rest in peace Captain Tom.”

Questions will be asked as to how he got the virus. According to his family, he tested positive for Covid-19 on January 22 after returning home from hospital where he was diagnosed with pneumonia.

The statement said Sir Tom was tested regularly for Covid-19 between December 9 and January 12 and each test returned negative.

“He was admitted to hospital on January 12. Whilst in hospital he received a pneumonia diagnosis. In addition, as with other patients, he was tested regularly for Covid-19.

“On January 22, Tom was discharged from hospital back to the family home where he felt most comfortable. Unfortunately he was left still fighting pneumonia and tested positive for Covid-19 that day.

“He remained at home, cared for by family and medical professionals, until he needed additional help with his breathing. He was taken by ambulance to Bedford Hospital on Sunday January 31.”