Daniel Cioffi granted Covid-19 travel exemption to visit dying mother at Royal Adelaide Hospital

Daniel Cioffi has finished his journey across the world to be with his terminally ill mum – and shared what he’ll tell her after initially being refused permission to fly home.

An Adelaide expat was finally able to visit his dying mum in hospital on Wednesday night – ending a three-week nightmare of being banned from travelling to South Australia.

Daniel Cioffi, 40, arrived in Adelaide on Wednesday on a private plane, chartered by charity Angel Flight, from Brisbane where he had been in quarantine in a medi-hotel.

Former basketball star Mr Cioffi travelled last month from Spain to see his mother, Emanuela, 66, who is battling aggressive brain cancer – but was denied a compassionate Covid-19 travel exemption by SA Health.

Mr Cioffi was left angry and devastated by the harsh ruling.

On his mercy dash to Royal Adelaide Hospital Mr Cioffi said he couldn’t wait to tell her how much “he loved and miss her … and that I couldn’t come earlier”.

He said the whole matter had been “extremely distressing” and “painful” and the person who had suffered most was his mother.

“That’s what saddens me the most,” he said. “I think people need to be held accountable for what has happened.”

Daniel Cioffi and pilot Paul Michel arrives at Adelaide Airport after Mr Cioffi received a compassionate exemption from SA Health to visit his terminally ill mother.

Daniel Cioffi on the tarmac at Adelaide Airport. Picture: Matt Turner

Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier declined to say what changed health authorities’ minds to allow the exemption, and defended the approval process.

“All I can say is there has been ongoing advice,” she said.

Earlier in the week, Professor Spurrier said, due to clinical status, it was not deemed an “end-of-life” situation. There are now calls for SA Health to apologise to the Cioffi family for refusing the request.

In a letter dated August 3, Mrs Cioffi’s treating radiation oncologist says she has a “poor overall prognosis”, “is not a candidate for aggressive therapy and has been recommended palliative care input in what is likely to be a terminal phase of her illness”.

MLC Frank Pangallo said the department has been aware since last week that Mrs Cioffi wasn’t recovering.

“The SA Health arrogance of the past few days has added to the family’s distress,” he said. “They deserve a public apology.”

Prof Spurrier declined to publicly apologise to the family during the press conference.

Mr Cioffi left his pregnant wife, Yolanda, 41, and toddler daughter India, almost three, at home in Majorca to see his mother one last time.

Daniel Cioffi with his mother Emanuela.

Pilot Paul Michel and Daniel Cioffi at the airport. Mr Cioffi was flown into Adelaide by Angel Flight.

Angel Flight CEO Marjorie Pagani said Mr Cioffi was originally scheduled to fly into Adelaide from overseas last month however his flight was cancelled midway through his journey as Covid outbreaks started occurring in Australia. Instead, he landed in Brisbane.

“Daniel was advised that for his exemption to be granted he would need to show he could travel via a private aircraft from Brisbane to Adelaide – and was referred to us,” Ms Pagani said.

Volunteer pilots, Paul Michel from Brisbane and Owen Crees from Adelaide, spent all of Wednesday transferring an emotional Mr Cioffi across more than 2000km and two borders to reach his mother’s bedside.

“Daniel came halfway around the world to be here with his mother and the last part of his journey has been a bit of a struggle so we are just delighted to be able to help out,” Mr Crees, 71, told The Advertiser.