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Gut-wrenching moment Karl Stefanovic finds out live on air that his old schoolmate's mum died overnight– as Allison Langdon chokes back tears and blasts cruel decision to keep him in hotel quarantine

An old schoolmate of Karl Stefanovic has told the Today host live on air that his mother had died while he was stuck in hotel quarantine, and the Queensland government refused to let him out to see her one last time.

Anthony McCormick went to Saint Augustine's College in Cairns with Stefanovic, and was a guest on the show on Thursday morning when he told the emotional hosts that he was denied permission to get out of quarantine to say goodbye to his dying mum.

His mother died on Wednesday night while he was held in quarantine after travelling back home from Canada.  

Stefanovic was unaware of the news when he introduced his old school mate and asked: 'How are you doing? How is your mum doing'?

 'G'day, Karl. She passed away last night,' his schoolmate replied, leaving Stefanovic and co-host Allison Langdon choking up.

'We had no idea Anthony, we were hoping to help get you out to see your mum in time,' Langdon replied through tears. 

A schoolmate of Karl Stefanovic told the Today host his mother had died live on air while stuck in hotel quarantine after the Queensland government refused to let him see her

A schoolmate of Karl Stefanovic told the Today host his mother had died live on air while stuck in hotel quarantine after the Queensland government refused to let him see her

Stefanovic and Langdon were inconsolable as Mr McCormick told his story after Queensland Health rejected his bid to see his dying mother

Stefanovic and Langdon were inconsolable as Mr McCormick told his story after Queensland Health rejected his bid to see his dying mother

'Thought we might get another week. Sort of the end of the road there. She was very upset that I couldn't get in there and see her,' a heartbroken Mr McCormick replied.

'That was really what she was hanging on for. The situation is I've got 12 days in this room now to sort of process this thing on my own.'  

Mr MCormick said his mother had only fallen sick three weeks ago and she was 'desperate' to see him get back. 

'It is awful man, the pain you are feeling right now, we're feeling a tiny bit of it and we didn't even know your mum,' Stefanovic said.

'We are so sorry.' 

Mr McCormick slammed the heartless stance of Queensland Health after he had followed every step of protocols laid out by NSW Health for his flight via Sydney.

The devastated son said he was 'economically forced' to fly to Sydney as direct flights from Canada to Brisbane cost at least $15,000.

'NSW Health were amazing, they had proactively called me before I got on the flight, had an exemption plan laid out and while I was on the flight they'd executed it.'

'Queensland Health were silent. It wasn't until I landed and had to start chasing them up to get things moving. I didn't get a single call from Queensland Health, while NSW Health were constantly on the phone to me.'

Langdon slammed the lack of compassion shown by state and federal governments in helping Australians say goodbye to family members

Langdon slammed the lack of compassion shown by state and federal governments in helping Australians say goodbye to family members

Mr McCormick says he can't get ahold of anyone from the government and given a reason as to why his application to see his dying mother was rejected

Mr McCormick says he can't get ahold of anyone from the government and given a reason as to why his application to see his dying mother was rejected

Mr McCormick says he is now stuck in quarantine for a further 12 days, left to mourn his mother in isolation.

'I would have been far better off staying in Canada, to be honest, where my wife is, freedom to get outside and so forth.'

'There's no context here. There's no feedback. I can't touch anyone. I can't see anyone. Beyond the odd sort of call. It's me and these four tiny walls for the next 12 days.

'It's all about my mum. She was desperate to see me, 

Langdon slammed the lack of seemingly incoherent approach of health authorities in denying Covid-negative people the chance to say goodbye to family members. 

'We saw a football game in Queensland last night, with crowds and people not wearing masks. That's fine, but we can't find a way this long into a pandemic to let loved ones see a dying relative. It's heartless,' she said through tears.

Mr McCormick says he's now looking for answers as he spends the remaining 12 days of his quarantine mourning his mother

Mr McCormick says he's now looking for answers as he spends the remaining 12 days of his quarantine mourning his mother

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