Man denied entry into Qld to be by mum’s side reveals she passed away overnight without him

A Cairns man living in Canada denied entry into Queensland to be with his dying mum has revealed her death, shattered that he didn’t get to see her and fearful that he must spend another 12 days alone in quarantine.

A Cairns man living in Canada denied entry into Queensland to be by his dying mother’s side in Brisbane has revealed on breakfast TV that she died overnight.

A distressed Anthony McCormick told breakfast TV on Thursday morning where he revealed despite his best efforts, he wasn’t able to reach his mum in time.

“She passed away last night. We thought we might’ve gotten another week out of that,” he said.

“She was very upset that I couldn’t get there to see her. That was really what she was hanging on for.”

His mother was only diagnosed with cancer three weeks ago when she initially fell ill.

Anthony McCormick with his mother who sadly passed away on Wednesday night. Picture: The Today Show.

The Today Show hosts were clearly shocked by the news with Alison Langdon visibly upset as she wiped away tears and Karl Stefanovic saying it was a “truly awful thing”.

Despite being granted an exemption to leave New South Wales quarantine, Queensland Health denied his entry into the state.

He said New South Wales Health were “amazing”, saying they proactively called him before he flew out, and as he travelled they were executing his exemption plan to be ready as he landed.

“Queensland Health on the other hand were silent. It wasn’t until I landed I had to start chasing them up to get things moving. I didn’t receive a single phone call from Queensland Health,” he said.

Mr McCormick said he now had 12 days in hotel quarantine to process the news.

“I can’t get any bearings on the situation … I can’t touch anyone or see anyone,” he said.

Anthony McCormick with his mother who sadly passed away on Wednesday night. Picture: The Today Show.

He called the process to even get to his position “monumental” saying he required a negative Covid test in 72 hours of his last connecting flight and being “economically forced” to land in Sydney first.

“There were almost no flights going directly to Brisbane … The one or two flights that would’ve gotten me directly to Brisbane were going to cost me in the order of $15,000 to $28,000,” he said.

He also arranged a $9000 commercial air charter due to commercial airlines not allowing him to fly despite his negative Covid test.

“The point I want to make is that it’s about compassion. These are supposed to be compassionate policies, I think these policies are very confused about what compassion means,” he said.