The body of a Russian tourist who died in Cuba and was mistakenly sent to Canada in late March has yet to be returned to his home country, where his grieving family awaits. In an interview with RT, the deceased's wife, Tatiana, stated, "My husband is 99% likely in Canada," and mentioned they've been "promised that by the end of May his body will be sent home to Chelyabinsk."
Tatiana announced that she plans to conduct a forensic examination to determine the cause of death, as she suspects her husband might have met a violent end. "The body swap was not accidental but deliberate," she asserted, believing her husband's body might show signs of foul play, which is why she received a "bald Canadian."
The Tragic Mix-Up
Following the death of her husband, Ilya Neroev, age 51, on March 22 in Cuba, Tatiana received—three weeks later—the body of Canadian Faraj Allah Jarjour, age 60, who had died around the same time in the Caribbean nation. The Canadian family received the Russian's body, and the Russian family received the Canadian's body.
Neroev had traveled to Cuba on March 20 with Tatiana. On March 22, while they were relaxing on the beach, he went back to the hotel room and never returned. Tatiana later learned of his death but only saw his covered body, observing just his head. She returned to Russia three days later.
The man's daughter confirmed that they waited three weeks for the body to arrive in Russia. However, they were given the body of the Canadian, which they could not identify and subsequently buried, believing it was Neroev. It was Faraj Allah Jarjour's family who realized the mix-up when they received the wrong body from Cuba and initiated an investigation.
The Cuban regime, through its foreign ministry, has apologized to both families for the unfortunate mistake, which remains unresolved.
FAQs on the Body Mix-Up Incident in Cuba
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the unfortunate body mix-up incident involving a Russian and a Canadian tourist in Cuba.
Why was the body of the Russian tourist sent to Canada?
The body was mistakenly sent to Canada due to a mix-up by Cuban authorities handling the deceased tourists.
What are the families doing to resolve the situation?
Both families have been in touch with respective authorities and are waiting for the bodies to be correctly returned. The Russian wife plans to conduct a forensic examination to determine the cause of her husband's death.
Has the Cuban government responded to this mistake?
Yes, the Cuban government, through its foreign ministry, has apologized to both families for the error.