Karl Stefanovic disappears from Today after daughter’s health scare

Karl Stefanovic was missing from the Today show this morning, with co-host Allison Langdon acknowledging his absence.

Entertainment reporter Brooke Boney, newsreader Alex Cullen and reporter Lara Vella stepped in to help Allison host the show.

Explaining why Karl was nowhere to be seen, Allison told viewers that he was too unwell to come to work.

“Our top story is the reason why Karl has not turned up to work this morning, we have decided,” she joked.

“Sadly, he is at home sick this morning.”

This comes just days after Karl described the scary moment his daughter Harper was rushed to hospital last week, after noticing a “small cough and a sniffle”.

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The Today host experienced what thousands of Aussie parents have been going through in recent months with an influx of respiratory illnesses overcoming kids, including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Explaining the situation to Allison, he recounted how terrifying it was.

"She just had a sniffle and a small cough and within six hours we had her at the GP, then within half an hour she was in an ambulance going to the hospital.”

The star said that Harper’s heart rate went over 200, and her temperature was over 40 degrees.

"It was only because of a great GP who was able to get on top of it, put her straight in the ambulance and straight to the hospital," he said, where she stayed overnight for observation.

Stefanovic said he was sharing the story on air to warn other parents.

Allison Langdon vanishes mid-show

Earlier this month, Allison was noticeably absent from the Today show when she left during the broadcast.

Karl Stefanovic was left to explain her mysterious departure, saying that Allison wasn’t feeling great and had a ‘frog in her throat’.

“Welcome back to the show. Man down, man down,” Karl joked, while pointing to the empty chair beside him. “Ally’s unfortunately had to go home, she’s got a very sizeable frog in her throat this morning. She’ll be back on deck tomorrow,” he told viewers.

As Karl looked slightly flustered while gesturing to Ally’s chair, Brooke Boney tried to put the co-host at ease.

“You look more relaxed Karl,” she laughed, before Karl made a cheeky quip aimed at co-host Allison.

“Look, she does put me on the edge. I never know what’s going to come,” he joked.

“Hopefully a day rest will sort her out,” Brooke replied.

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