Emotions run high as Mark Kilian finally sees his dying dad in hospital after lockdown drama

Mark Kilian, who has been at the centre of a quarantine exemption drama, held his frail father close today when he was finally allowed to see him at the Gold Coast University Hospital.

Mark Kilian’s story has captured the heart of the nation and finally on Friday afternoon that story of distress and desperation came to a heartwarming conclusion.

Mr Kilian, who has been at the centre of a quarantine exemption drama, held closely his frail father who is terminally ill at the Gold Coast University Hospital.

Emotions were raw at the much-anticipated reunion.

Mark Kilian’s emotional reunion with father Franz.

Overwhelming happiness mixed with sadness filled the special Covid-19 safety ward that father Franz was transferred to from Robina Hospital.

Mr Kilian and Ms Gericke flew into the Gold Coast on Thursday. They were escorted fully dressed in personal protective equipment to Robina Hospital on Friday afternoon.

Speaking from a Gold Coast hotel on Friday evening where they remained in quarantine, Mr Kilian said seeing his father was surreal and wonderful.

“It feels completely surreal and completely wonderful on so many levels. It’s beautiful even, but at the same time, it’s all just very sad,” Mr Kilian said.

“It’s the first time we’re seeing him in real life, it’s been on FaceTime, it’s not easy but it was huge for us and for him too I think.

“I don’t even think we’ve had time to process it. There’s a lot involved in the logistics (to visit Dad), it’s quite a performance.

“A lot had to happen to get us into the same room, we are unbelievably thankful for everyone’s support, and even though there were so many setbacks when I held Dad’s hand nothing else mattered.

“We were told on Thursday that yes we would get to see him, and after being picked up in our hotel basement by an ambulance on Friday afternoon, we were fitted with PPE and briefed by a crowd of health staff with COVID protocols.”

Scott Morrison urges Qld to have compassion over Mark Kilian quarantine case

Early on Friday Mr Kilian told The Courier-Mail the reunion mission was under way but the details were being kept under wraps.

“I believe my wife Anneli and I will enter the hospital through the basement. We will be in full PPE gear but regardless of the physical barriers of the suits we can’t wait to finally hug my dad,” he said.

The couple moved heaven and earth to see Franz in the final days of his fight against pancreatic cancer. They flew more than 12,000 km from Los Angeles to Sydney and went straight into hotel quarantine.

Mark Kilian’s emotional reunion with father Franz.

They hired a chartered plane to take them from Sydney to the Gold Coast hoping they would get the green light from the Queensland Government to enter the state.

But that exemption did not come easily with even the Prime Minister Scott Morrison jumping in to help make it happen.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Wednesday finally agreed to allow the trip but demanded the NSW government confirm in writing that Mr Kilian had an exemption to leave quarantine.

The couple are fully vaccinated and have had multiple COVID-19 tests.

“I am extremely thankful to all the federal and state politicians for all they have done to unite our family,” Mr Kilian said.

Originally published as Emotions run high as Mark Kilian finally sees his dying dad in hospital after lockdown drama