Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon break down on Today over news of woman’s death

The Today host broke down live on air this morning after learning his mate was unable to visit his dying mum due to border restrictions.

The Today Show hosts broke down on live TV this morning after it was revealed Karl Stefanovic’s schoolmate was unable to visit his dying mother due to Queensland’s border restrictions.

Karl opened the interview with Anthony McCormick by checking in on his mate.

“I went to school with Anthony in Saint Augustine‘s in Cairns. How are you? How is your mum doing?” he said.

“G’day Karl, G’day, Karl. She passed away last night. So that was …,” Mr McCormick responded.

Allison Langdon broke down at the news, wiping away her tears with a tissue, while Karl slumped over the desk.

Allison Langdon could not fight back the tears as she heard of Mr McCormick’s plight.

Mr McCormick had made a mad dash from his home in Canada to try and say his final goodbyes to his Brisbane-based mother dying of cancer.

He spent thousands of dollars in airfares to try and be there for her final moments. But he was held up at the final hurdle, as his mother died last night – just two days into his mandatory two-week long quarantine.

Karl breaks down on air.

Anthony McCormick is mourning the death of his mother. Picture: the Today Show

“She was diagnosed three weeks ago when she fell ill. By the time they figured out the prognosis, I was scrambling to get on board (a flight),” he told the Today show.

“I could sit here and bash the system all day long. NSW Health were amazing. They had proactively called me before I even got on my flight, had the exemption plan all laid out and while I was on the flight they actually executed it.

“Queensland Health on the other hand were silent. It wasn’t until I landed and I had to start chasing them up and had to get things moving, I didn’t receive a single phone call from Queensland Health, yet NSW were constantly on the phone to me, calling the hotel room.”

He added that the point he wanted to make was around the states’ differing regulations.

“It is supposed to be a compassionate policy. I think these policies are very confusing about what compassion means,” he said.

The heartbreaking situation comes a month after Queensland Health was blasted over another compassionate case.

Mark Kilian was able to visit his dying father Frans Kilian after a change of tact from Queensland Health. Picture: supplied.

Kilian and Anneli Gericke, who were fully vaccinated against Covid-19, were forced into Sydney‘s hotel quarantine after Queensland Health originally refused their request to enter the state.

The pair were granted compassionate exemptions from Border Force and NSW Health to fly to Australia from Los Angeles in June.

After an agonising 10-day long wait Queensland Health changed its mind, and allowed Kilian to visit his father one last time at the Gold Coast University Hospital.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt. Picture: Andrew Henshaw/NCA NewsWire

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Dan Peled/NCA NewsWire

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said this morning that his government is trying to work with the states and territories to have a clear method when dealing with compassionate cases.

“I think you‘ve just given the example of the case in Queensland and we have had some challenges in ensuring that exemptions are done rapidly,” he told the Today show.

“We‘ll be supportive of all of the states and territories, but ultimately, as I see this, these are people’s lives and these are the critical moments in their lives.

“This is a very important part of how we provide exemptions for incoming travel to Australia, or for outgoing travel at the international border level, but between states I‘d encourage and support that same compassionate approach.”

Originally published as Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon break down on Today over news of woman’s death