A Canadian family is looking for answers after discovering that their father's remains did not make it to Canada from Cuba, where he died while on vacation, and instead received the remains of another man.
The funerals for Faraj Allah Jarjour were scheduled for Sunday and Monday. Instead, his daughter Miriam Jarjour had been contacting and emailing as many officials as possible in an attempt to locate his remains.
Canadian Family Receives Wrong Remains of Dead Body
Jarjour said she was swimming with her 68-year-old father in the ocean near Varadero, Cuba, on a family vacation on March 22 when he suffered a heart attack and died.
Because there were no medical facilities, his body was covered and left on a beach chair in the scorching heat for over eight hours before a car arrived to transport it to Havana, according to Jarjour.
Following that, it is unclear what happened.
According to The Hill, Jarjour stated that she followed the guidelines given to her by the Canadian consulate and paid $7,300 to have the body returned to the family.
However, the casket that came late last week held the remains of a Russian man at least 20 years younger than Jarjour's father. Unlike her father, the dead body possessed a full head of hair and tattoos.
Jarjour stated that the stranger's body had been sent to his country, but she and her family do not know where her father is.
Grieving Family Seeks Helps to Locate Faraj Allah Jarjour's Remains
When Jarjour called Canadian diplomatic authorities in Cuba, they accused the business in charge of coordinating the return of the remains. Since then, she says she's been emailing other government officials, including her Member of Parliament, who has pledged to contact Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly.
Jarjour characterized her father as an energetic person who did not smoke or drink. The Syrian-born family man was "always smiling," she said.
According to Jarjour, the ordeal has tired her mother. She and her brother are dealing with their pain while seeking explanations from authorities who all appear to reject culpability.
So far, the family has paid $18,248, which includes $10,950 for postponed funeral arrangements.
Global Affairs Canada stated in an email that consular officers are collaborating with Cuban authorities and the family to settle the matter.
However, Jarjour does not believe she is receiving the answers she requires, and she hopes Joly will personally intercede to put pressure on Cuban officials, according to The Gazette.
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