'It's not my father's body!' Wrong man sent home after death on family vacation in Cuba
It has been a devastating month for the Jarjour family from Laval, Que., and on Friday, it got worse.
The family's Cuba vacation has turned into a never-ending nightmare after the body of their loved one did not return with the rest of the family.
Instead, someone else was sent in his place and now they're looking for answers as well as their father.
Faraj Jarjour died on March 22 in Varadero, Cuba, and when they went to identify the 68-year-old father of two, a Russian man about 20 years younger was in the casket with tattoos and a full head of hair.
"It was not the body of my father," said Faraj's daughter Miriam Jarjour. "It was another person who didn't look like my father."
"I'm in shock," said son Karam Jarjour. "Like, I cried."
Faraj had a heart attack in the sea on the second day of their family vacation. With no doctor at the hotel they were staying at, the family waited hours for emergency services to arrive and take his body away.
They then called the Canadian Consulate and were told it was closed on the weekend and they could come on Monday.
The consulate also said that the family must pay $10,000 to send Jarjour's body back to Canada.
They scraped the money together and waited three weeks. Now, they have his passport and death certificate but have no idea where his body is.
"It's a body," said Karam. "It's human, not an animal or something like that."
The family tried contacting the Canadian government multiple times and when they finally reached someone, Miriam said the employee said it was not their responsibility. It was, she said, the responsibility of Asistur, a Cuban medical insurance company that delivered the body.
However, Miriam said she was never in contact with the company.
"We Canadians are not protected in Cuba," she said.
The Urgel Bourgie funeral home in Montreal told CTV News that it is in contact with the Cuban company and is looking for the proper body.
Global Affairs Canada told CTV News via email that it is looking into the file.
The whole ordeal has been an emotional and physical drain on the family.
"My mom, it's been like one month since she has eaten because of what happened," said Karam.
Have a news tip? We'd like to hear your story. Please send an email to MontrealDigitalNews@BellMedia.ca
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa pizzeria places among top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world at international competition
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
'He's in our hearts': Family and friends still seek answers one year after Nathan Wise’s disappearance
It’s been a year since Nathan Wise went missing and his family is no closer to finding out what happened to him.
Canada Post cracks down on Nunavut loophole to get free Amazon Prime shipping
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
Mother's Day movies that pull at ALL the heartstrings
This Mother's Day Weekend, take a look at some of the most emotional movies inspired by moms.
Suspect sought after fatal slashing in downtown Toronto
Police are searching for a suspect in a homicide investigation after a man was slashed in downtown Toronto on Sunday.
Edibles, armchairs and adapters: Here are the recalls for this week
Health Canada announced various product recalls this week, including electric adapters, armchairs, cannabis edibles and vehicle components.
Putin replaces Russian defence minister in rare cabinet shakeup
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin began a Cabinet shakeup on Sunday, proposing the replacement of Sergei Shoigu as defence minister as he begins his fifth term in office.
WATCH Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.