The daughter of a Russian tourist who died in Cuba but received the body of a Canadian man instead of her father and buried him, spoke to a media outlet in the Eurasian country to give her version of the events. Her father, named Ilya Neroev, 51, traveled to Cuba on March 20 with his partner. On March 22, they were resting on the beach when the man went to their room and did not return.
His partner later learned that he had died. She only saw his covered body and observed his head. Three days later, she returned to Russia. The man's daughter claims they waited three weeks for the body to arrive in Russia. “When they brought it, his wife went to identify him. Everyone else saw him only in the church, where they asked, ‘Who is this? Why does he look so different?’,” she said.
However, the church assured them that it was normal for a body to undergo changes during embalming for transport, so they decided to bury him, not knowing that her father was on his way to Canada.
Around the same time as Neroev's death, Faraj Allah Jarjour, a 60-year-old Québécois, died in Cuba. His body was mistakenly sent to Russia by Cuban authorities. “At least we know where he is. It’s not easy for us [...] Until now, he was lost; I had to find my father’s body,” declared Miriam, Jarjour’s daughter, to TVA Nouvelles, after the loss of her father's corpse.
According to Neroev's daughter, the bodies were switched and “everything turned out fine,” after photos were exchanged between the Cuban embassies in the involved countries. Due to this error, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla had to publicly apologize to the Canadian government and Faraj's family.
Despite promises from Cuban authorities for a thorough investigation to prevent such mistakes in the future, Neroev's daughter says she wants to clarify the causes of her father's death. Initially, Neroev's death was considered a heart attack, but the final certificate indicated "acute pulmonary edema," she told the Russian media.
However, she noted that photographs sent showed signs of bruises on her father's body. His partner also doubts the official conclusion.
Details on the Mistaken Identity Burial in Cuba
This section provides answers to common questions regarding the incident where the bodies of a Russian tourist and a Canadian man were mistakenly switched and buried in the wrong countries.
Who was Ilya Neroev?
Ilya Neroev was a 51-year-old Russian tourist who died while vacationing in Cuba on March 22.
What caused the mix-up of the bodies?
The mix-up occurred due to errors by Cuban authorities, who mistakenly sent Faraj Allah Jarjour's body to Russia and Ilya Neroev's body to Canada.
What actions did the Cuban government take in response to this mistake?
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla publicly apologized to the Canadian government and the family of Faraj Allah Jarjour. Cuban authorities also promised a thorough investigation to prevent future mistakes.
What were the initial and final causes of Ilya Neroev's death?
Initially, Neroev's death was considered a heart attack, but the final certificate indicated acute pulmonary edema. His family also noticed signs of bruises on his body, raising further doubts.