‘It was kind of like being there’: Sunrise host David ‘Kochie’ Koch is forced to meet his sixth grandchild Ella virtually due to coronavirus travel restrictions
Sunrise host David ‘Kochie’ Koch became a grandfather for the SIXTH time last week.
But with coronavirus lockdowns and travel restrictions in place, it’s the first grandchild he hasn’t been able to meet in person soon after they were born.
As it could be a very long time until Kochie, 64, sees the baby girl in person, he told Sunday’s The Daily Telegraph that he settled for meeting the bub virtually.
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‘It was kind of like being there’: Sunrise host David ‘Kochie’ Koch is forced to meet his sixth grandchild Ella virtually due to coronavirus travel restrictions
The TV star’s daughter Brianna Jayasinghe gave birth to baby girl called Ella Hope Elizabeth in Perth on Monday, April 6.
Kochie told the publication that he and his wife Libby were first introduced to baby Ella on FaceTime.
The family has since held group Zoom chats with the adorable little girl, with Kochie saying: ‘It was kind of like being there. She is just the cutest little thing.’
‘She is just the cutest little thing’: Kochie told the publication that his family are doing the best they can to stay in touch by using FaceTime and Zoom (pictured)
‘You’re so lucky to have such a wonderful mum’: The popular breakfast show presenter’s daughter Brianna Jayasinghe gave birth to baby girl Ella Hope Elizabeth in Perth on Tuesday night
The Sunrise host expressed great sadness over not being able to meet his sixth grandchild last week.
Kochie shared three photos of the mother-of-three and her newborn daughter on Instagram in celebration of the bundle of joy’s arrival.
‘Welcome to the family Ella Hope Elizabeth Jayasinghe, you gorgeous little girl,’ David captioned the sweet post.
‘Devastated we can’t be there for a cuddle’: Sunrise host Kochie welcomed his sixth grandchild Ella from afar – since he can’t meet her in person amid the COVID-19 pandemic
He added: ‘You’re so lucky to have such a wonderful mum … and dad and two brothers.
‘Grandchild number six, born in Perth and devastated we can’t be there for a cuddle.’
Sydney-based Kochie and his wife Libby are unable to travel to Western Australian after the state shut the border on Monday at midnight.
Far away: David was unable to see his newborn grandchild in person as he and wife Libby remained in Sydney, after Western Australian enforced a strict border control on Monday at midnight
Ella Hope’s name has a special meaning amid these uncertain times, according to David’s London-based daughter Georgina.
‘My niece was born today and one of her middle names is Hope. I can’t wait to tell her how much that meant during this time,’ Georgie wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.
Brianna also shares two sons with her husband CJ, eight-year-old Jax and four-year-old Teddy.
David’s daughter Samantha Brown also has three children, Lila, nine, Oscar, 11, and Matilda, 13.
David has five other grandchildren. Pictured: David with Matilda, Oscar, Lila, Jax and Teddy