A Quebec family from Laval, north of Montreal, is searching for answers after the body of their father went missing. Faraj Jarjour, 68, died in Varadero, Cuba after having a heart attack while swimming in the ocean on March 22. It was the second day of their family vacation.
Last Friday, when the family went to identify Jarjour’s body here in Canada, they discovered a Russian man about 20 years younger in the casket – with a full head of hair and tattoos, Jarjour was bald.. They paid $10,000 to have their father’s body repatriated and at this point, have no idea where the body is.
The Jarjour family says there was no doctor available at their hotel, and others tried to help, but their father had a severe heart attack and no one was able to revive him. They waited for hours for emergency services to arrive and take his body away. In the meantime, the body was in the hot sun on the beach.
Upon contacting the Canadian Consulate, they were informed it was closed for the weekend and they should return on Monday. Additionally, the consulate informed them they would need to pay $10,000 to repatriate Jarjour’s body to Canada.
Despite waiting three weeks, the family only received his passport and death certificate, and no body.
The family explains that they tried contacting the Canadian government multiple times and when they finally reached someone, an employee said it was not their responsibility – but that of a Asistur, Cuban medical insurance company that delivered the body. The family claims they were never in touch with that company.
CityNews reached out to Global Affairs Canada, they responded to our email to say that they would soon get back to us, but we have yet to receive a statement with more details.
Photo of Faraj Jarjour’s body covered on the beach in Cuba after his death March 22, 2024. (Courtesy: Jarjour family)
CityNews also reached out to the Urgel Bourgie funeral home in Montreal for a statement, but have not received a response.
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