An Australian man with terminal cancer has been able to secure a trip home after he was bumped from an earlier flight due to travel caps.
Brendan Suggate, 34, and his partner Alison Bishop have been living in London for the past few years and in October, he was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer.
They booked a flight home to Sydney before Christmas when Mr Suggate's condition worsened and he was told he had just months to live.
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The Qatar Airlines flight was booked for February 3 and was timed so that with hotel quarantine Mr Suggate would not go without treatment for an extended period of time.
However last week the couple were bumped off the flight due to new caps on the number of returned travellers allowed into Australia.
"It was pretty frustrating, especially hearing the news that 1200 tennis players had flown into Melbourne for the Australian Open," he told 9News.
"To hear that, being an Australian abroad, that has cancer, that has so many months to live, can't get home... that was a bit disheartening."
Mr Suggate said he contacted health authorities and the airline to no avail, and in his experience the disconnect was between state and federal governments in Australia.
He said Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian embassy have been incredibly helpful, but he had been unable to get in contact with the NSW government.
Last night, after a compassionate campaign from friends who contacted politicians, NSW Health, the DFAT and media, Mr Suggate and Ms Bishop were delivered some good news.
They were able to get on another Qatar flight from London to Sydney on February 4.
"I'm super excited and I am very grateful to Qatar Airways and the High Commission for getting me on a flight on the 4th because it means the world to me," Mr Suggate said.
"I cant wait to get to Bondi beach, and to go swimming, and drive up the NSW coast to Byron Bay it's going to be absolutely stunning."
Today NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian was asked why Mr Suggate had not received a response from health authorities.
She said NSW Health are trying to get back to everyone who contacts them "in a timely manner".
"We appreciate how difficult it's been the uncertainty with border closures the uncertainty with our caps on the number of Australians coming back home has meant that it's caused a lot of stress for people," Ms Berejiklian said.
Mr Suggate was diagnosed with bowel cancer after developing bad stomach cramps following a hike in Scotland.
"On the evening when I was driving home I had really bad stomach cramps after dinner and I just thought it was food poisoning or over-exertion."
He said the pain and cramps continued on and off for the next few weeks, and in October a colonoscopy found a tumor blocking his colon.
In November he was told the cancer was more aggressive than first thought, and doctors told him he has about 12 months to live.
The 34-year-old plans to spend this time back in Sydney with family, friends, and ticking items off his bucket list.
"I've got a list of about 50 cafes I want to visit.
"We're looking to buy a campervan and get back to exploring NSW because it's been eight years since I lived there."
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