- Faraj Allah Jarjour died of a heart attack while swimming in Cuba in March
- His family received the body of a Russian 20 years younger in Montreal
- The corpse had tattoos and a full head of hair.
A Montreal-area family is still hoping to recover the body of their father, who died while on vacation in Cuba, after receiving the body of another man.
Faraj Allah Jarjour, 68, was swimming with his daughter Miriam Jarjour, both from Laval, Canada, when he suffered a heart attack on a beach near Varadero.
Miriam Jarjour revealed that a funeral that was scheduled for Sunday and Monday was abruptly canceled after the family noticed they had received the remains of a Russian man about 20 years younger than her father.
The body had a full head of hair and tattoos.
The grieving makeup artist said she has been unable to get a response from officials in an attempt to find her father’s body.
“So far we have no answer,” he said. ‘Where is my father?’
Miriam Jarjour said her father was pulled from the water and immediately performed CPR.
The family almost an hour before a doctor arrived and confirmed that he was dead.
Faraj Allah Jarjour (second from right), pictured here with his daughter Miriam Jarjour (left), his wife (second from left) and son Karam Jarjour (right), died while on vacation in Cuba on March 22 after of suffering a heart attack while swimming at a beach. Family postponed his funeral after receiving the body of a Russian man
Faraj Allah Jarjour’s body spent nearly eight hours on the beach near Varadero, Cuba, before being transported by car to Havana.
The boy remained on the beach for eight hours on a chair and covered with a blanket before authorities arrived and took him to Havana.
“We are sad because my father died,” said Karam Jarjour global news. “But we are sadder because my father is we don’t know where.”
The family said they followed instructions from the Canadian consulate and paid $7,300 to repatriate the body.
The coffin arrived late last week with the body of a Russian man. His body has since been sent to Russia.
Miriam Jarjour contacted Canadian consulate officials and they blamed the company managing the return of the remains.
He says he has been emailing other government officials, including his member of Parliament, who has agreed to contact Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly.
“I’m honestly devastated,” Miriam Jarjour said. ‘So far we have no answers. We were waiting. I do not know what to tell you.
Faraj Allah Jarjour died while on vacation in Cuba, but his family has not been able to hold a funeral because they received the body of a Russian 20 years his junior. The family has been in contact with Canadian consulate officials in hopes of locating his body.
Faraj Allah Jarjour (center) with his son Karam and daughter Miriam
He remembered his father, born in Syria, as someone who was active, who didn’t drink or smoke and “was always smiling.”
The incident left her mother exhausted as she and her brother struggled with their own grief, trying to get answers from authorities, who appear to deny responsibility.
So far, the family has spent $18,248, including $10,950 for funeral services that have been suspended.
Global Affairs Canada said in an email that consular officials are working with Cuban authorities and the family to resolve the issue.
Miriam Jarjour does not believe she is getting the answers she needs and hopes that Joly will personally intervene to pressure the Cuban authorities.
“What I want is for someone to help me find my father,” he said.