A vaccinated father’s desperate plea to get to his son’s bedside as he wakes from coma

A fully vaccinated Melbourne man has pleaded with Queensland Health to grant him an exemption to avoid 14 days quarantine as he tries desperately to be by his injured son’s bedside as he wakes from a coma.

A fully vaccinated father living in Melbourne is desperately trying to get to his son’s bedside, after his son suffered critical injuries in a horrific motocross accident in Townsville late last month.

Don Barber, whose son Scott Barber was involved in the high impact crash on July 25, has pleaded with Queensland Health to allow him to get to his son’s side, as he slowly awakens from his coma.

Don applied for the exemption on July 27, however on August 3 Queensland Health responded stating the desperate father could enter into the state but must complete 14 days of hotel quarantine at his own expense.

On the day Don‘s exemption to avoid 14 days of hotel quarantine was knocked back, Victoria had recorded only four new cases of Covid-19 compared to Queensland’s 16 in the same 24 hour period.

“I don’t understand why I can’t get to see him, I’m fully vaccinated,” Don said.

“I don’t mind getting another test when I arrive in Queensland and waiting for the result before going to see him, but waiting for 14 days is ridiculous.”

Dr Jeannette Young and her exemptions team have denied Mr Barber's attempts to immediately visit his sick son, saying he must quarantine for 14 days before his visit at his own expense. Picture: Brad Fleet

Scott was flown to the Townsville University Hospital following the crash, which leaves him currently unable to talk due to extensive brain damage.

Scott‘s family say he has only just gained the ability to open his eyes, however say he is unable to focus on anything or react to movement or sound, with his eyes “flickering.”

His brother Ross Barber, along with the boys’ mother, had been able to visit the 26-year-old in hospital, however Ross has now left to return home to his young family in Cairns.

“We need everyone around as much as we can,” Ross said.

“Especially for mum. She’s there by herself now and she needs the support. Both mum and dad should be there for Scott, there’s not much more to say other than they both need to be there for him.

“Mum and dad need to make the decisions that are best for Scott. I don’t feel like I should be the one to make the decisions … Obviously I’m happy to do it, but it should be dad there with mum.“

Don, an airport worker, said he is well versed in understanding the symptoms of Covid-19 and before his son’s accident, was being tested for the virus almost daily for work.

He said since the crash, however, he hasn’t been going to work or leaving his house for reasons other than shopping for essentials.

“I feel the stress, I feel the guilt of not being able to get there,” Don said.

“Ross really is saying: ‘dad, we need you to get to the hospital.’

Don said as well as the excruciating wait to get to his son’s side, the financial burden of taking 14 days off work, combined with the cost of paying for the quarantine hotel is just too much.

“It’s tough. I can hardly think. I just want to be by his side, we’re so close and I know he’s going to be confused and sad when he wakes up.

“He’s going to want his dad there.”

Queensland Health said they were unable to comment on individual circumstances, however stated “exemptions can be difficult decisions and they are not always granted.”

Despite Victoria having minimal active Covid-19 cases at the time Queensland Health rejected Don‘s exemption, the department said: “The team must balance care and compassion for individuals while protecting the safety of more than 5 million Queenslanders.

“Following a number of COVID-19 cases in Victoria, Queensland declared the state a hotspot from 1am 17 July 2021.

“Exemptions are applied in a way that is sensible and sensitive and are undertaken on a case-by-case basis and guided by the relevant public health direction.”